Dial-a-Ride

Andrew Boff: What percentage and number of the Dial-a-Ride fleet is currently non-compliant with the ULEZ?

The Mayor: Dial-a-Ride has a total fleet of 305 buses in service. Transport for London (TfL) has replaced older buses with 90 new, ULEZ compliant, Euro VI vehicles, comprising 30 per cent of the overall fleet. Only these ultra-clean buses are used for any passenger journeys within the ULEZ zone.
In total, 70 per cent of existing Dial-a-Ride vehicles do not comply with ULEZ. Whilst these buses do not enter the central London zone, TfL is currently in the process of procuring 186 ULEZ-compliant vehicles, meaning the entire Dial-a-Ride fleet will be compliant when the ULEZ expands in 2021. The projected future fleet requirement is a total of 276 vehicles.

Holland Park Avenue Cycle Lane (2)

Tony Devenish: Given the need to work with boroughs in order to build cycling infrastructure, does TfL recognise that failing to do so will mean failing to deliver the cycling improvements that residents want?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) maintains good relationships with boroughs across London, a large proportion of which share the same enthusiasm and drive to deliver cycling and walking improvements to make their residents and visitors safer and healthier. There is no failure on TfL’s part in working to deliver my Transport Strategy (MTS) in coordination with the Healthy Streets Approach.
In relation to the recent proposals within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), TfL worked collaboratively with RBKC officers throughout the development of this scheme, which aligns to the MTS and the Council’s own Local Implementation Plan.
It was a disappointment, not only that RBKC unexpectedly and unilaterally chose to oppose the scheme during the consultation period, but also that it prevented TfL from undertaking any local engagement pre-consultation. TfL regularly uses this type of engagement as an important way of informing and understanding local opinion and to better shape proposals ahead of more formal consultation.
As I noted in response to Mayor's Question 2019/14435, there are many examples of councils who work collaboratively with TfL to deliver much needed safety enhancements for their residents and visitors, and I continue to ask boroughs of all political leadership to work with TfL to make London safer. This includes RBKC, with whom TfL remains keen to continue working with on proposals to make it safer to walk and cycle along Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate.

Holland Park Avenue Cycle Lane (1)

Tony Devenish: What lessons will TfL learn from their failure to listen to Kensington and Chelsea Council on their planned Holland Park Avenue Cycle Lane?

The Mayor: This scheme would transform Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate for people walking and cycling, significantly improve safety, preventing collisions and injuries and in a way that supported and benefited local businesses and protected the interests of local residents.
Far from not listening to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC), Transport for London (TfL) in fact spent many months developing the scheme with the borough. During that development the borough requested that TfL did not undertake pre-engagement activities with local groups, despite TfL developing a plan to do so. The borough also stated it would retain a neutral stance in order to form a view based on the consultation responses, and TfL and the borough agreed to proceed on that basis. The borough invited residents to respond to the TfL consultation.
TfL was therefore very surprised when, during a consultation meeting with local residents at which TfL was presenting, the borough unilaterally adopted a different stance and declared opposition to the scheme as currently designed without warning or pre-discussion with TfL. This decision was made despite not having seen any of the 5,000+ responses to a consultation which, at that point, had not yet concluded. By announcing its opposition to the scheme during the consultation period, it is RBKC that has failed to listen to all its residents’ views and to TfL’s response to the comments. This unilateral and unprofessional approach is extremely regrettable.
TfL is of course now taking the borough’s changed views into account alongside all other consultation responses, and will respond to the issues raised in due course.
One injury on London’s roads is one too many. There are many examples of councils who work collaboratively with TfL to deliver much needed safety enhancements for their residents and visitors, and I continue to ask boroughs of all political leaderships to work with TfL to make London safer. This includes RBKC, with whom TfL remains keen to continue working on proposals to make it safer to walk and cycle along Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate.

Apprenticeships (5)

Fiona Twycross: Can you provide me with a breakdown of apprenticeships started in London, by sector and by borough, further broken down by level and broken down again by disability by academic year quarter since August 2018 to date?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be aware that there may be some delay, as the data required in order to answer your question fully is not yet available

Inspection of interim fire safety measures (2)

Andrew Dismore: In your response to question 2019/12198, you said that "LFB has procedures in place to respond to fire safety concerns raised by residents in any premises". How many safety concerns have been raised by residents in buildings with interim fire safety measures have been lodged with LFB in each year since the Grenfell Tower fire? Please break this data down by borough.

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) routinely receive a range of general enquiries and concerns from residents through a variety of means. These interactions are not routinely captured for recording purposes. However, serious safety concerns are captured as Alleged Fire Risks (AFRs). There has been one AFR raised from a resident in a block with interim fire safety measures in place since June 2017, and that was in Hounslow.

Public sector remediation of ACM cladding (4)

Andrew Dismore: What is the total number of social sector buildings in London with ACM cladding that have yet to be allocated funding from the remediation fund?

The Mayor: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has committed to fund the remediation of all social sector residential buildings with ACM cladding of 18m or over. MHCLG is yet to approve four buildings in London. My team is working with building owners to get these applications approved as quickly as possible.

Inspection of interim fire safety measures (1)

Andrew Dismore: In your response to question 2019/12198, you said that LFB firefighters are conducting ad-hoc checks on interim fire safety measures. How many such checks have LFB conducted in each year since the Grenfell Tower fire, and what has been the number of person-hours taken up?

The Mayor: Ad hoc checks of buildings with interim arrangements have been in place since December 2017. The number of buildings to which these checks have been applied has varied slightly over that time as buildings have been remediated and new premises have been added. The person hours taken up at these visits will have varied greatly for a number of reasons, including differences in the primary reason firefighters were visiting the premises and the complexity of the property and it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the hours spent on these visits. There have been in excess of 2,400 revisits to these premises since December 2017. 1,768 visits took place in 2018 and 616 visits have taken place so far in 2019.

Public sector remediation of ACM cladding (2)

Andrew Dismore: Of the social sector buildings that have been allocated cladding remediation funding via the GLA, how many are in each borough?

The Mayor: The Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government is responsible for collecting data on buildings affected by ACM cladding, and the information they collect is published in building safety data releases, the latest of which is available on the link below. Specific information on exact number of buildings in each borough, or how many have received cladding remediation funding, is not published to avoid the risk that buildings can be identified.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/816141/Building_Safety_Data_Release_June_2019.pdf

Public sector remediation of ACM cladding (3)

Andrew Dismore: How many dwellings are contained in the buildings to which the GLA has allocated funding for the remediation of ACM cladding in the social sector?

The Mayor: On behalf of the Government, the GLA has allocated funding from the Social Sector Cladding Remediation fund to 72 buildings, which contain a total of approximately 5,500 dwellings.

Lakanal House coroner's recommendations

Andrew Dismore: What correspondence was had between LFB, other GLA bodies, and London Boroughs regarding the coroner's recommendations following the Lakanal House fire?

The Mayor: Following the Coroner’s recommendations, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) initiated a high-rise fire safety forum, hosted by LFB and attended by partners including London Councils, the National Social Housing Fire Strategy Group, the Association of Residential Letting Agents and a number of other associations. LFB also ran a campaign targeted at housing providers and those living in purpose-built blocks of flats, which used a variety of means to promote important safety messages. Letters were sent to all London Boroughs and Housing Associations, and ‘know the plan’ guides were sent to local councillors.
The Brigade also engaged with DCLG to request clarification on a number of Regulatory Fire Safety matters.

Public sector remediation of ACM cladding (1)

Andrew Dismore: How many social sector buildings have had funding allocated from the cladding remediation fund administered by the GLA and what is the total value of this allocation?

The Mayor: The GLA manages the Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund in London on the Government’s behalf. The Government approves funding applications, and a total of approximately £206m funding has been committed and has begun to be spent on 72 buildings in London.

Wildlife corridors (2)

Steve O'Connell: Will you commit to including support for wildlife corridors in your forthcoming update to the All London Green Grid?

The Mayor: Yes. The existing All London Green Grid SPG already provides a spatial framework to support the conservation of the capital’s biodiversity and the enhancement of ecological resilience. This includes creating and strengthening wildlife corridors and ecological connections between existing sites of importance for nature conservation and other areas of wildlife habitat. This guidance will be updated following the publication of my London Plan early next year.
My Greener City Fund also supports the management and improvement of green corridors.The third round of the community green space grant is currently open for applications until 30th September.Guidance on making an application is available on the GLA website.Grants will be awarded at the end of this year for projects taking place during 2020.

Autism (7)

Andrew Boff: What if any autism awards and accreditations is the Mayor of London promoting across London?

The Mayor: The Mayor of London promotes a range of awards and accreditations which include the needs of children in London who are on the autistic spectrum.
This includes the Mayor’s Healthy Schools London Awards. In order to achieve these awards, schools must have systems to identify and meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people and provide appropriate and relevant support. This includes provision for pupils on the autistic spectrum.
Childcare settings working to achieve The Healthy Early Years Bronze and Silver Awards are also required to demonstrate their support for disabled children and those with complex needs including young children on the autistic spectrum.

Food waste (1)

Fiona Twycross: A recent survey of Londoners found that more than 75 per cent of respondents cited vegetables going off at home as the reason for wastage, with 24 per cent buying too much to use at the supermarket. How can you support Londoners to reduce their food waste?

The Mayor: I am a Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 Food Waste Champion, and through the London Waste and Recycling Board I am working with national and global food sector organisations, supermarkets, government departments and other partners to help Londoners cut food waste by 50 per cent per person by 2030. Through LWARB, I am supporting campaigns including Recycle for London, Love Food Hate Waste and TRiFOCAL to help Londoners and businesses to reduce food waste.
TRiFOCAL works with local authorities to help residents to reduce food waste, recycle food that cannot be eaten and eat healthy sustainable meals, through cookery workshops and targeted communication activities. Workshops have also taken place in 24 schools across London and workshops have been delivered to 20 community groups. TRiFOCAL has developed tools and resources aimed at helping food service business and large employers in London to cut food waste. It has also trained 70 Environmental Health practitioners (target was 50) and developed a series of video training modules as a legacy resource. These resources are available on the TRiFOCAL resource bank http://resources.trifocal.eu.com/.
I have also set a requirement in my London Environment Strategy for all local authorities to provide separate food waste collections from all properties by 2020, including from flats where feasible to boost food waste recycling.
Also, please see my response to Mayor's Question 2019/14610.

London Food Strategy

Navin Shah: As part of the London Food Strategy you said you would promote much higher numbers of employers paying the London Living Wage. How many employers has your office engaged with on this subject and has there been any uptake of the London Living Wage as a result?

The Mayor: The number of accredited London Living Wage employers has more than doubled since I took office, to over 1600. During this period, having fulfilled my pledge to align the London Living Wage rate to the UK real Living Wage rate, resulting in an increase to £10.55 an hour today, I and my team have engaged with many employers and Londoners on this issue, directly and indirectly, through face to face meetings, letter writing, and through speaking engagements. I have also provided TfL advertising space free of charge to LWF during Living Wage Week, as well as launching the London rate the last three years running. I will continue to promote the benefits of the London Living Wage and campaign for more employers to pay it, including through my Good Work Standard. I want employers from all sectors - both big and small - and from across the capital to reach this benchmark for good employment practice.
I will continue to urge employers to sign up to become Living Wage accredited through a variety of channels.

London Food Strategy - Drinking Fountains

Navin Shah: Has work started or when will work start on installing the network of more than 100 drinking fountains?

The Mayor: To cut single use plastic I have entered into a partnership with Thames Water to install a network of over 100 drinking water fountains across London.
Work began last year, including procuring the new fountains, running a call for host sites, scoring applications and undertaking technical assessments of the sites. Last week I announced where fountains have been installed to date, and where the next set of fountains will be installed in the coming months. This totals 51 sites and is in addition to the 28 I have already installed in partnership with ZSL and their #OneLess campaign.
Beyond this I will be continuing to work with Thames Water to deliver on the commitment to install more than 100 fountains by April 2021.

Train Operating Companies & Clean Energy

Navin Shah: A constituent has raised the issue of diesel trains and is particularly affected by the Chiltern Line. What can your office do to encourage train operating companies that run through London to transition to cleaner energy?

The Mayor: Reducing air pollutant and carbon emissions from rail is vitally important and my Transport and Environment strategies call for all of London’s rail services to be electrified, or use zero emission technologies, by 2050. Responsibility for this transition on the Chiltern Line lies with central government and Network Rail; I continue to lobby government for investment to make this route zero emission.

Millennium Mills (5)

Navin Shah: With the gross neglect of the building I’m seriously concerned about the safety and integrity of the structural fabric of the building. Can you confirm that the building is still suitable for conversion and that it will be converted to provide SME spaces as per the extant planning consent? Can you also update me programme for implementation of the planning consent?

The Mayor: The main Millennium Mills building was not affected by the fire in June; the fire affected the adjacent Rank Hovis building. The Rank Hovis building’s structure had already become challenging prior to the fire due to natural decay. Following the fire there continue to be investigations and surveys to ascertain the extent of damage and the options for refurbishment and retention.
The Silvertown Partnership are due to submit a Reserved Matters Planning Application in the autumn for phase one. They are currently undertaking consultation and pre-application discussions with LB Newham and GLA Planning.

Future Funding for the /Creative Land Trust

Navin Shah: The Mayor’s annual funding commitment is till 2020/21. What assurance are you able to give that funding allocation beyond this period for sustainable provision of affordable artists’ and creative workspaces will be made in future budgets? If not, how do you see this shortfall will be addressed?

The Mayor: I am committed to improving long term access to affordable workspace so that the next generation of London’s creative workforce has the support it needs to flourish. That is why I have launched the Creative Land Trust. It will help artist studio providers access finance so that they can purchase buildings to provide affordable creative workspace in perpetuity across London. I have made a capital investment of £4m in the Creative Land Trust, matched by £3.5m from partner funders including Arts Council England. This will deliver 1000 permanent creative workspaces within five years, ensuring that the impact of this investment is seen for decades to come.
The Creative Land Trust has been set up as an independent charitable organisation and will secure further finance from social investment funds and philanthropic funders so that it can continue to operate long into the future.

Accessibility of Stations serving Football League Grounds

Navin Shah: Concerns have been conveyed to me by a local disability group about access for fans with disabilities to football (league grounds). They say, “It is really important people with disabilities can do ordinary everyday stuff like go to watch football without too much hassle”. Can you please confirm what is the Londonwide picture in this respect and is this aspect of equality/equal access built into your step-free programme for London’s train stations?

The Mayor: I am committed to making London’s transport system more accessible and inclusive, enabling more Londoners to be able to spontaneously and independently access all the opportunities the city has to offer. The bus network is already fully accessible and there is a programme of work underway to increase the proportion of the rail and Underground networks that are step-free. By spring 2024, 38 per cent of the Tube network will be step-free compared to 28 per cent in 2018.
Currently, seven of the 15 stadiums in London where professional football is played have stations nearby with step-free access. This will increase to nine following the completion of White Hart Lane for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Selhurst for Selhurst Park, later this year.

Transport Strategy – Step-free Access (3)

Navin Shah: In response to my question (2019/12248), once the level of capital investment funding from Government is certain, on which basis will TfL identify the next tranche of stations for step-free access? Are there particular areas of the network of key priority for step-free access and how is that identified?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) will identify the next tranche of stations for step-free access through a variety of methods.TfL is planning a programme of engagement with disabled customers and representative organisations in order to better understand their views on how best to prioritise stations to be made step-free. TfL also has a team of highly experienced transport planners who are able to identify which stations deliver the biggest benefits within the scope and budget of any future programme.TfL will also continue to work closely with local authorities with regard to their priorities and areas for development that could provide opportunities such as sources of third party partnership and funding.The outcomes of these activities will inform TfL’s choices for any future step-free access programmes.

Public Relations and the Mayor

Peter Whittle: To ask the Mayor how much money the Mayor’s Office has spent on public relations over the last three financial years and what his budget is for this item in the current financial year.

The Mayor: The Mayor’s Office does not have a budget for public relations, and that has been the case for the last three financial years.

Deal or No Deal

Peter Whittle: I note that on 4 July 2019 you Tweeted to your followers: ‘The damage that Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt seem willing to do to our economy, in pursuit of power, looks limitless. The refusal to take no-deal off the table is already creating uncertainty, denting business confidence and damaging our economy.’1 What empirical evidence (apart from what I believe to be scare mongering from HM Treasury, Remainer cheerleaders or former Goldman Sachs banker Mark Carney) do you have that the UK leaving the European Union without a deal will damage our economy?
1https://twitter.com/SadiqKhan/status/1146853219466907650

The Mayor: As the UK is still a member of the EU, one cannot gather "empirical” evidence about what will happen if the UK leaves.
However, we can and should listen to analysis from the Bank of England, the Government’s Office of Budget Responsibility, and the International Monetary Fund. They have published studies predicting the economic damage of a no deal Brexit.
The independent economic analysis that I published last year suggested that a ‘no deal’ hard Brexit could lead to a lost decade – or even longer - of significantly lower growth. That means 500,000 fewer jobs and nearly £50bn less investment by 2030 than would otherwise have been the case.
We must also listen to business. Carolyn Fairbairn, Director General of the Confederation of British Industry, said last week that “no deal is a tripwire into economic chaos that could harm our country, and the EU, for years to come.”
If the UK were to crash out of the EU in October, then I fear that the empirical evidence that might then be gathered on the effects of a no-deal Brexit would prove those educated predictions to be devastatingly accurate.

Culture spend

Andrew Boff: What was the total amount of money spent by the GLA on culture in 2015/16?

The Mayor: The table below provides figures for expenditure by the GLA Culture team in 2015/16. The GLA and the City of London Corporation have a joint statutory duty to fund the Museum of London.
Culture Expenditure
Expenditure Excluding Museum of London
£m
Museum of London
£m
Total
£m
15-16 Expenditure
4.6
7.8
12.4

Builds on Residential Gardens

Andrew Boff: What was the total number of builds on residential gardens during the following years: 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19?

The Mayor: Please see my answer to Mayor's Question2019/12250.

LFB ULEZ

Andrew Boff: What percentage and number of each category of LFB’s fleet is currently non-compliant with the ULEZ?

The Mayor: LFB fleet compliance with the ULEZ is shown in the following table:
Category
Compliant
Non Compliant
Pumping appliances
123 (59.4%)
84 (41.6%)
Aerials
0
19 (100%)
Fire Rescue Units
0
18 (100%)
Command Units
0
9 (100%)
Front Line Specials
0
38 (100%)
Cars
60(100%)
0
Vans
20(65%)
11 (35%)
National Resilience
0
27(100%)
In total
203 (49.5%)
207 (50.5%)
All fleet vehicles stationed within the inner zone are compliant and have been since ULEZ was introduced. Stations with ‘grounds’ that spread into the inner zone have allocated pumping appliances that are compliant. The rest of the LFB fleet is planned to be compliant by the end of October 2021 through the asset replacement programme. However, the Home Office has no plans for the National Resilience prime mover and the detection, identification and monitoring (DIM) vehicles to be replaced by October 2021. In addition, a certified ‘after fit’ exhaust treatment system has not been found, so there is a risk these twenty-six National Resilience vehicles will not be compliant by October 2021. The LFB also already operate an electric car fleet.
The whole LFB fleet is either compliant, registered within the sunset period or only operated outside central London, and so the LFB has not been issued any ULEZ charges. Some officers’ cars used under the essential car user scheme are non-compliant and, therefore, could incur a charge if driven within the inner zone, but no ULEZ penalty charge notices have been reclaimed to date.
The LFB also operate and maintain 27 National Resilience prime mover and detection, identification and monitoring (DIM) vehicles on behalf of the Home Office. All these vehicles are currently non-compliant, and I am concerned there are no plans to upgrade them. I urge the Government to match our ambition and leadership and ensure these vehicles are compliant by October 2021.

Millennium Mills fire (2)

Andrew Dismore: LFB reported that the Millennium Mills building had caught fire four times previously, most recently 12 months ago. What fire safety advice, if any, did LFB provide to the responsible person after each of these fires?

The Mayor: The building has been disused for over 30 years and cannot be occupied in its current state. London Fire Brigade (LFB) have previously discussed with the managing agents about the security arrangements at the site. Following the latest discussions, security at the site has been increased to prevent further fires.

Millennium Mills fire (1)

Andrew Dismore: Who is the responsible person under the Fire Safety Order for the Millennium Mills site which caught fire on 23 June 2019?

The Mayor: The site is managed by the GLA’s property management consultants, Avison Young, and they are responsible for fire safety.

GLA grants

Andrew Boff: How much money has the GLA given to Film London, the British Fashion Council and London Design Festival since May 2016?

The Mayor: Through its grant agreements, the GLA invests £2.8m a year to Film London, the British Fashion Council and London Design Festival. This is broadly similar to the annual grants under the previous Mayor.
This funding helps creative industries attract new investment and deliver employment and economic growth. For example, in 2018/19, the GLA’s investment helped secure £524m in sales, exports and inward investment in creative businesses.
Grant Recipient
Annual Grant Agreement£m
Film London (Film, TV and Animation)
Film London (Games)
£1,550,000
£385,000
British Fashion Council
£649,000
London Design Festival
£250,000

Fires affecting rough sleepers (1)

Andrew Dismore: How many rough sleepers in London have a) died and b) required hospitalisation as a result of injuries sustained in fires in each year from 2009/10 to the present? Please provide this data broken down by borough if possible

The Mayor: There is no specific data category in the national Incident Recording System, which London Fire Brigade (LFB) follows, for indicating whether the victim of a fire is a ‘rough sleeper’. The data to answer this question (attached) has been compiled by querying free text held as part of the incident record.
This includes messages from the incident ground where someone sustained an injury or died as a result of a fire that occurred outdoors, or in outdoor structures including garages, warehouses, squats, vans and communal areas of residential blocks. Fires in hostels for homeless people have not been included in this search.

Fires in cannabis farms (2)

Andrew Dismore: What is the average number of appliances and firefighters attending incidents at cannabis farms, in each year since 2009/10?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) has no specific data identifier for fires at cannabis farms. Data about such fires is derived from querying free text incident messages. Data about appliances and riders at fires at ‘cannabis farms’ is also set out in the table below.
Financial Year
Number of fires
Pumping appliances
Other appliances
Appliances (average)
Riders (average)
Appliances (average)
Riders (average)
2009/10
18
4.2
18.9
3.3
8.3
2010/11
15
4.0
19.1
2.1
4.8
2011/12
20
4.5
19.9
2.4
5.1
2012/13
26
4.0
17.7
2.8
5.8
2013/14
20
4.2
19.0
3.1
5.5
2014/15
25
3.8
19.0
2.2
4.9
2015/16
18
4.1
19.1
2.3
6.1
2016/17
26
4.0
18.1
1.7
3.1
2017/18
18
3.7
17.2
2.2
5.2
2018/19
14
5.1
22.8
2.9
6.1
2019/20
8
8.4
37.0
6.3
10.9
The average number of pumping and other appliances attending (and riders) excludes reliefs.
The average number of pumping appliances and pumping appliance riders in 2019/20 is impacted by the 15-pump fire at a warehouse in Tottenham in May 2019 and the smaller data set, as the figures up to 9th July 2019.

Fires affecting rough sleepers (3)

Andrew Dismore: Of the fires in London since 2009/10 in which a rough sleeper sustained an injury or died as a result, how many were judged by LFB to have been started deliberately? Please provide this data broken down by year and by borough if possible.

The Mayor: Please see the answer to Mayor'sQuestion 2019/14525.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (20)

Andrew Boff: How many London Underground trains were defective whilst South of the river in the last year?

The Mayor: 502 London Underground trains were defective whilst south of the river in the last year.

Electrical appliance safety (2)

Andrew Dismore: Do LFB fire safety visits include a check of electrical appliances in the premises in order to make residents aware of any that are on LFB's danger list?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) current Home Fire Safety Visits do not routinely include checks of electrical appliances. However, both the LFB website and the ‘Fire Safety in the Home’ booklet contain specific advice regarding the electrical safety of appliances. The ongoing Total Recalls campaign also continues to raise awareness of electrical appliance safety and the need for a central Government product recall database.
The pilot of the Fire, Safe and Well visits did include elements of electrical appliance safety, including product registration and recall. This provided valuable data which has been shared with the Office of Product Safety and Standards.

Electrical appliance safety (1)

Andrew Dismore: In your response to my question 2019/9239, you said you would expect "all Londoners to heed the advice of London Fire Brigade". What actions has the GLA, including LFB, taken, to make developers of housing on GLA land aware of LFB advice regarding unsafe electrical appliances and to encourage them to heed this?

The Mayor: The London Development Panel (LDP2) is the GLA’s framework of developers and builders which can be used to deliver residential-led development on public land. There are already standard clauses in LDP2 contracts which require developers to do all things required by any regulations relating to the works and the use and occupation of the premises.
Officers in Housing & Land are working with the LFB to review the standard form of contracts for LDP2 to make sure that new homes delivered on the GLA’s land through the panel meet the highest standards of fire safety. The review will consider including measures relating to the fire safety of electrical appliances in new LDP contracts, and sharing this guidance with existing developers building on GLA land.

Fires in cannabis farms (1)

Andrew Dismore: How many fires at cannabis farms has LFB attended since 2009/10? Please provide this data by year.

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) does not use a specific data identifier for fires at cannabis farms. Therefore, data about such fires is derived from a free text search for the term ‘cannabis farms’ in its records. The number of fires identified through this format are set out below:
Financial Year
Number of fires
2009/10
18
2010/11
15
2011/12
20
2012/13
26
2013/14
20
2014/15
25
2015/16
18
2016/17
26
2017/18
18
2018/19
14
2019/20* (as at 9 July 2019)
8

Electrical appliance safety (3)

Andrew Dismore: What guidance, if any, on interior appliance fittings does the GLA issue to housing developers operating on GLA land?

The Mayor: Please see the answer to Mayor's Question 2019/14520 but note that it is the responsibility of developers to ensure that they comply with statutory fire regulations and Electrical Wiring regulations (18th Edition) and any codes of practices or guidance issued by the HSE, central government and the LFB.

Apprenticeships (3)

Fiona Twycross: Can you provide me with a breakdown of apprenticeships started in London, by sector and by borough, further broken down by level and broken down again by gender by academic year quarter since August 2018 to date?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be aware that there may be some delay, as the data required in order to answer your question fully is not yet available.

Apprenticeships (2)

Fiona Twycross: Can you provide me with a breakdown of apprenticeships started in London, by sector and by borough, further broken down by level and broken down again by age by academic year quarter since August 2018 to date?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be aware that there may be some delay, as the data required in order to answer your question fully is not yet available.

Apprenticeships (1)

Fiona Twycross: Can you provide me with a breakdown of apprenticeships started in London, by sector and by borough, further broken down by level and academic year quarter since August 2018 to date?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be aware that there may be some delay, as the data required in order to answer your question fully is not yet available

Rail Grinding between Victoria and Pimlico (4)

Tony Devenish: Rail-grinding was aborted in April 2018 due to ‘poor ventilation’. Can TfL give us assurances that this problem won’t occur again?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) used a new methodology when carrying out these works in April 2018. Since then, TfL has reverted to its original way of working, and there have been no incidents of works being stopped due to poor ventilation.

European Social Fund and Adult Education

Jennette Arnold: How concerned are you about the loss of European Social Fund money from adult education and how are you mitigating this?

The Mayor: European Social Fund (ESF) programmes are managed by City Hall. The current programmes are worth £508m – equating to over £1billion over seven years once match funding is taken into account; and support employment and skills activity across London including adult education.
ESF programmes will continue in London until 2023, regardless of whether a Brexit deal is reached, but it is a source of great concern that the Government has failed to develop its plans for replacing EU funds with its ‘UK Shared Prosperity Fund’ (UKSPF).
Back in 2017, I wrote to Ministers jointly with London Councils to call on Government to continue to devolve these programmes, with funding of at least the same quantum.
The Government’s promised 2018 UKSPF consultation paper is now nearly a year overdue.

Preparation for Adult Education Budget

Jennette Arnold: What are your next steps to prepare for the imminent delegation of the Adult Education Budget?

The Mayor: I am pleased to say that preparations are nearly complete and we are on track to commence delivery of the Adult Education Budget (AEB) from 1 August 2019.
All AEB grant agreements (for grant providers) and contracts (for procured providers) will be in place for 1 August and all providers have pre-registered onto the GLA Management System (GLA OPS).
I want to ensure that all new providers are fully supported so, GLA provider managers will meet with them before delivery commences.
In terms of next steps, an AEB Assurance Framework will soon be published along with the GLA’s approach to provider monitoring, intervention and audit. An evaluation of how the new AEB delegated powers have been implemented will be procured and research will be commissioned which will influence any new funding policy from 2020/21.

High Quality Placement for T-Level Students

Jennette Arnold: Thank you for your answer to question 2019/9130 on T-Levels. How are you working with industry and business to ensure that more students have access to high quality placements during their qualification?

The Mayor: The Department for Education is leading on implementing the T-level programme, the first wave of which is due to go live from autumn 2020.
It is expected that two of the three T-Levels (digital and childcare sectors) due to be delivered as part of the first wave will be available at four London providers (two schools and two colleges) from this time.
In the meantime, I will seek the views of industry and business stakeholders through my Skills for Londoners Business Partnership on how to best support the requirements of the work placement aspect of the new qualifications.

Learner Fund Support for AEB Recipients

Jennette Arnold: Thank you for your answer to question 2019/9125 on affordable childcare for adult learners. How much leaner support fund will AEB recipients be eligible for?

The Mayor: Learner Support is not ring-fenced and AEB grant-funded providers have flexibility to decide how much of their AEB allocation to allocate to it. I will shortly be commissioning research to better understand how Learner Support is spent across London and - now that the AEB has been delegated to London - to assess whether the criteria should be widened or adapted to ensure it is available to those London learners most in need.

Bombardier Trains Acceptance Process

Jennette Arnold: Why were the challenges to the acceptance process of Bombardier’s 345s and 710s not factored into their delivery time?

The Mayor: The train design, delivery and testing programme were agreed with Bombardier Transportation, the manufacturer of the new trains, prior to the contract award. The agreed timescales were based on industry consultation prior to the competitive tendering process and Transport for London (TfL) expected the new trains to be delivered to these timescales.
The delay to the new trains was due to Bombardier subsequently encountering problems with software integration, requiring extended development testing prior to acceptance by TfL. TfL pushed Bombardier hard throughout the delay to ensure all possible effort was made to fix the problems so that the trains came into safe and reliable service at the earliest possible opportunity.

Impact of HS1 access charges

Caroline Russell: Will you express concerns to the Office of Rail and Road about HS1's proposals to increase track charges for passengers by 40 per cent and freight by 70 per cent? These increases would damage the competitiveness of rail alternatives to flying, including prospects for new rail services to increase London's international connectivity.

The Mayor: Transport for London’s (TfL’s) response to HS1’s recent consultation on access charges expressed these concerns over the proposed increases to charges which, as you correctly point out, would reduce the competitiveness of the rail mode as an alternative to flying. Similarly, the increases are expected to reduce the volumes of rail freight through the Channel Tunnel, which is already well below what was originally forecast. Additionally, the changes would also adversely affect users of the HS1 domestic services to London, potentially compromising the significant housing development planned on the HS1 Route, which is expected to help address London’s housing shortage.
TfL will continue to conduct formal engagement with the Office of Rail and Road during the Periodic Review process to ensure, as far as possible, that these concerns are addressed and a solution delivered that accommodates the reasonable requirements of all the parties involved.

Cleaner Heat Cashback

Leonie Cooper: Thank you for your answer to question 2019/12096 on the Cleaner Heat Cashback underspend. How will you ensure that the redirected money will support carbon reduction as well as air quality improvements?

The Mayor: The remaining Cleaner Heat Cashback capital (CHC) will be allocated to a new round of the Business Low Emissions Neighbourhoods Air Quality Scheme (BLENs) and to Good Growth Fund (GGF) projects with an environmental focus.
BLEN projects will be scored more favourably where they deliver multiple, complementary benefits. Types of schemes that will be funded include those that support businesses to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions through reduced vehicle use, reduced building emissions and use of cleaner vehicles, enabling some areas to become demonstrator locations for best practice or low emission zones. Carbon reductions will be measured alongside air quality metrics.
GGF projects will be able to access funding via a two-stage open, competitive application process. £4m has been ringfenced for projects that reduce both air pollution and carbon. Projects will need to demonstrate their impact through specific outputs including emissions and/or pollution exposure reductions (air pollutant and carbon emission reductions should be quantified), alongside other proxy indicators such as reductions in vehicle kilometres.

Autism (3)

Andrew Boff: What is the Mayor of London doing to make the employment opportunities more accessible for autistic people in London?

The Mayor: In my Skills for Londoners Strategy I set out my plans to help empower all Londoners to access the education and skills to participate in society and progress in education and work. A priority of my strategy is to develop a more inclusive adult education and skills system for learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
I commissioned a pan-London review of the availability and quality of SEND provision and this found that the number of Londoners with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is projected to rise over the next 5 years. My officers are working with partners to see how we can help address the current gaps in specialist provision to ensure the right support is available to help these Londoners fulfil their ambitions.
As a first step, the GLA will lead by example and pilot a supported internships scheme to help people with mild to moderate learning disabilities and people on the autism spectrum, into work, here at City Hall and beyond. The first intake will start this September.

Autism (2)

Andrew Boff: What is the Mayor of London doing to make transport more accessible for autistic people in London?

The Mayor: In 2018 Transport for London (TfL) commissioned a report into how station environments can be made more accessible for customers with neuro-diverse conditions, including autism.
TfL is also planning an industry roundtable in coming months to explore a new ‘Design for the Mind’ standard to make London’s Transport Network more accessible to those with neuro-diverse conditions.
In addition, TfL is training staff to better cater to those with accessibility issues, including autism. This includes comprehensive, face-to-face Disability Equality Training for its frontline and Professional Services staff.
TfL ran ‘Hello London’ training for all 25,000 bus drivers between 2016 and 2018, giving drivers support and advice on how to provide a good experience when interacting with all customers, including those with disabilities.
TfL’s freetravel mentoring service helps people to start using public transport, where a mentor helps a customer practice a journey to gain confidence to become an independent traveller on the TfL network.
Finally, TfL delivers campaigns to encourage considerate customer behaviour among customers, such as the distribution of free ‘Please Offer Me a Seat’ badges.

Autism (1)

Andrew Boff: What is the Mayor of London doing to make the arts more accessible for autistic people in London?

The Mayor: Making culture accessible for autistic people is important and many of the projects I fund have supported this. For example, the GLA funds the Museum of London, which runs Morning Explorer events specifically designed for families with autistic children. The GLA also funds Film London, who provide training to help film exhibitors make cinemas more accessible to disabled customers, including autistic people.
My London Borough of Culture programme in Waltham Forest includes events for autistic people. For example, projects like Wild about Highams Park held accessible sessions with local special education schools across the borough, and We are all Bats, a sound festival, is holding an autism-friendly version of their programme in partnership with Whitefield Academy, a special education school.
I have also launched Culture Seeds, my £1 million micro-grant programme for community-led cultural projects. This fund supports groups who would not otherwise have the opportunity to take part in cultural activities, and is open to projects which make the arts more accessible for autistic people.

Tube Noise [1]

Andrew Dismore: On average how frequently do wooden sleepers on tube lines need replacement?

The Mayor: Typically, timber sleepers are replaced approximately every 30 years.
Transport for London regularly monitors and repairs timber sleepers on its Tube network to ensure that they remain safe.

Tube Noise [2]

Andrew Dismore: What is the annual or other periodic cost of replacing old wooden sleepers with new concrete sleepers?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) does not have a separate budget for replacing wooden sleepers with concrete sleepers or ‘slab track’. This work is undertaken as part of the planned renewal of the track, to ensure the continued safety and reliability of the Tube network.
TfL spends approximately £150m a year on track improvements.

Air Conditioning on the Tube (1)

Keith Prince: Which Tube lines currently have air-conditioned trains?

The Mayor: The first ever air-conditioned Tube fleet is now in operation on the Metropolitan, District, Circle, and Hammersmith & City lines, with 192 Tube trains covering 40 per cent of the network.
There are 12 newair-conditioned, high-capacity Class 345 trains have also been introduced on the Liverpool Street to Shenfield and Paddington to Hayes & Harlington routes, which currently operate as TfL Rail. They form part of a 70-strong fleet of trains which will serve the Elizabeth line when it opens.

Autism (5)

Andrew Boff: Is the Mayor of London working with Councils and CCGs, Businesses, Charities and User Groups in London to make the city an autism-friendly place and if so, how?

The Mayor: The draft London Plan; Transport Strategy; and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy promote inclusive design, fundamental to creating public spaces which those with autism can access confidently. TfL is examining barriers to travelling for neuro-diverse customers and our work with the Alzheimer’s Society on creating a Dementia-Friendly London will benefit those on the autistic spectrum as it helps improve signage and customer information on public transport. We are working to ensure our GLA education and youth programmes and services are accessible to autistic young people and have held an event in partnership with London Youth for youth organisations across London focused on improving inclusivity for young people with special educational needs. Three members of the Mayor’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group have been appointed based on their expertise of disability equality and they are supporting the GLA in wider work with Deaf and Disabled Persons Organisations across London.

Autism (4)

Andrew Boff: What is the Mayor of London doing to promote technology to make London autism-friendly?

The Mayor: Too often, smart city thinking has been driven by a rush towards integrating new digital technologies, without understanding citizens’ needs first. The Mayor’s Smarter London Together Roadmap aims to put people first and respect diversity when we design digital services or adopt technology.
Through the new Chief Digital Officer for London, the GLA is championing the new Government Service Standard in the digital services it and London local government provides. This new emphasis on service design presents an opportunity to look at inclusion afresh, including an understanding of users from every background. For example, we want to ensure that there are no barriers that might prevent anyone who is hard of hearing or has visual, cognitive or motor impairments from accessing a digital service- this would benefit Londoners with Autism. We are working with city services to encompass this new thinking through the London Peer Group and other networks we support.

Millennium Mills (3)

Navin Shah: Who is the responsible person under the Fire Safety Order for the Millennium Mills site?

The Mayor: The site is managed by the GLA’s property management consultants, Avison Young, and they are responsible for fire safety.

Millennium Mills (4)

Navin Shah: I’m staggered to learn that this Grade II Listed building has been left in such a derelict state over the years. I’m also advised by the LFB that there have been four fires in the building, last being approximately twelve months ago. When was the building last surveyed to ensure it is safe and all necessary fire precautions have been taken?

The Mayor: The building affected by the fire in June is not Grade 2 Listed. The site includes a complex of mill buildings of various ages and conditions. The specific building affected by the fire has structural weaknesses and its retention has always been subject to viability.
A health and safety risk assessment of the whole site is carried out annually, the last being in November 2018, and all arrangements on site were considered satisfactory with no serious risks identified.

Supporting Those with Limited Mobility

Jennette Arnold: How does the Mayor support those with limited mobility and who are reliant upon their vehicles to stay independent?

The Mayor: I am committed to supporting those with limited mobility to use London’s transport system. With regards to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), Transport for London (TfL) has ensured that keepers of vehicles registered with a ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger vehicles’ tax class will benefit from a ‘sunset period’ after the ULEZ starts. They will be exempt from the ULEZ charge until 26 October 2025 as long as their vehicle does not change tax class.
I have also recently announced plans for a £25 million car scrappage fund, which will benefit low-income Londoners, including those reliant on cars, to switch to greener options in order to meet the ULEZ emissions standards.
TfL works hard to ensure events in the Capital accommodate the requirements of those reliant on their vehicles, and can make specific arrangements with those who need it to ensure they can complete journeys as expected.

GLA involvement in housing schemes involving proven contaminates

Caroline Pidgeon: What recording, if any, is undertaken by the GLA of regeneration and new home building schemes which it is involved in that have included the discovery of proven contaminates, such as asbestos and lead. If records exist, please publish them in full, broken down by each London Borough for each year since 2016.

The Mayor: The GLA Housing and Land team does not collect this information.

Young Londoners Fund and Islington

Jennette Arnold: How is funding from the Young Londoners Fund being used to tackle issues of serious youth violence in Islington?

The Mayor: The Young LondonersFund is helpingchildren and young people to fulfil their potential, particularly those at risk of getting caught up in crime. It issupporting a range of education, sport, cultural and other activities for young Londoners. The Young Londoners Fund is part of my public health approach to reducing violence and works alongside my Violence Reduction Unit.
20 projects working with young people from Islington were awarded grants through the first round of the Young Londoners Fund. These projects plan to support over 2,100 young people from the borough who are at risk of social exclusion or involvement in criminal activity, or who are already involved in criminal activity.
For example, The Access To Sports Project is running Nex Gen. This is a targeted programme of youth-work, sporting activities and training delivered in ‘hot spot’ housing estates. The project supports young people at risk of criminal activity to engage better with existing services and to reduce community tensions. Further information about all the Young Londoners Fund projects can be found at www.london.gov.uk/young-londoners-fund

homes for supported living

Onkar Sahota: How many homes adapted for supported living have been a) given planning permission and b) completed in London in each year since 2012?

The Mayor: The London Plan has contained policy requirements for accessible housing since 2004.
Current policy requires 90 per centof new build dwellings to be built to M4(2) Accessible and adaptable standards and 10 per centto be wheelchair user dwellings. The aim of these policy requirements is to increase choice for people who require accessible and adaptable dwellings or wheelchair user dwellings and to increase the proportion of the housing market that could meet their needs.
M4(2) dwellings and M4(3) wheelchair adaptable dwellings incorporate certain design features from the outset which enable adaptations to be undertaken quickly, cheaply and easily should they be required, for example reinforced bathroom walls to allow the easy installation of grab rails. However, these adaptations do not require planning permission therefore we have no way of monitoring how many homes adaptations have been undertaken.

Young Londoners Fund and Waltham Forest

Jennette Arnold: How is funding from the Young Londoners Fund being used to tackle issues of serious youth violence in Waltham Forest?

The Mayor: The Young LondonersFund is helpingchildren and young people to fulfil their potential, particularly those at risk of getting caught up in crime. It issupporting a range of education, sport, cultural and other activities for young Londoners. The Young Londoners Fund is part of my public health approach to reducing violence and works alongside my Violence Reduction Unit.
15 projects working with young people from Waltham Forest were awarded grants through the first round of the Young Londoners Fund. These projects plan to support over 1,400 young people from the borough who are at risk of social exclusion or involvement in criminal activity or are already involved in criminal activity.
For example, London Borough of Waltham Forest is running Streetbase. This is a peer-to-peer street engagement project led by young advisors aged 16 to 25 who are trained and accredited to patrol in crime hotspot areas. They deliver peer workshops on topics such as knife crime. Streetbase will signpost young people to positive activities, opportunities, events and support that will help prevent offending and anti-social behaviour. Further information about all the Young Londoners Fund projects can be found at www.london.gov.uk/young-londoners-fund

Joined up thinking in planning.

Onkar Sahota: What is or can your office to do encourage councils to, when granting planning permission, look at not just the percentage of affordable housing, but at how to ensure the necessary community infrastructure is in place to accommodate the increase in residents; including transport infrastructure, school places and adequate access to medical services?

The Mayor: My draft London Plan includes policies to ensure that all the elements required to deliver Good Growth are considered by boroughs, both in developing their own planning policies and in considering individual applications. Draft Policy DF1 is clear that development proposals should provide the infrastructure and meet the other relevant policy requirements necessary to ensure that they are sustainable and to support delivery of the Plan. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a tool for councils to help deliver infrastructure to support the development of their area.

Review of Crossrail 2 – OPDC (2)

Navin Shah: The October 2018 Budget Papers said, "The government is considering the recommendations of the ‘IndependentAffordability Review’ of Crossrail 2, and will consider the case for the project at the Spending Review". Do you know when the spending review will happen?

The Mayor: It is not clear at this stage what form a Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) will take and when it will take place. However, it is vital that the Government urgently provides certainty of long-term funding for the day-to-day operation and renewal of London’s transport system.
In addition, we need to find funding solutions to enable the crucial upgrade of signalling on the Piccadilly line and other projects that have long been planned as part of the Tube upgrade programme.
I will also be seeking renewed commitment from Government for Crossrail 2 following the submission of the updated Strategic Outline Business Case last month, which takes into account the recommendations of last year’s jointly commissioned Independent Affordability Review.

Millennium Mills (1)

Navin Shah: Can you confirm that the Millennium Mills site is owned by the GLA?

The Mayor: The Millennium Mills building is part of the Silvertown Quays site which is owned by GLA Land & Property Limited.

Millennium Mills (2)

Navin Shah: Can you confirm who holds development rights over the site, Silvertown Partnership or Landlease, and are seeking to develop it under planning application14/01605/OUT.

The Mayor: The development rights are held by The Silvertown Partnership which is a joint venture between Lendlease Europe Holdings Limited and Starwood Capital.

Brexit and food (2)

Andrew Dismore: What could be the impact on London, of the conclusions from a recent report from the Alternative Arrangements Commission, which suggests that one solution could be for Britain and Ireland to form a single zone for food standards?

The Mayor: Officers have not studied whether this latest idea intended to minimise the impact of Brexit on the Irish border would be viable in practice or especially relevant to London. However, it has been clear throughout the Brexit negotiation process that the most straightforward solution to the Irish border question - and the best economic outcome in the event of Brexit -would be for the United Kingdom to retain membership of the European single market and customs union.
The authors of this interim report are clear all parties would need to agree to their “alternative arrangements” proposal. However, Leo Varadkar the Irish Taoiseach has already made clear that the Republic of Ireland would be unable to back alternative proposals to the backstop that have not already been demonstrated as workable and there is not enough time left to do this before the end-of-October deadline.

Re-Opening Hammersmith Bridge (1)

Florence Eshalomi: On 11th June Gary Sterritt, Head of Asset Investment at TfL, told London Travelwatch that the project to re-open the bridge to vehicular traffic could take 3 years. Is this a correct estimate of the time it is likely to take?

The Mayor: An indicative timeframe of up to three years was offered based on Transport for London’s (TfL’s) experience of carrying out similar large scale projects.
Of course, there are a significant number of variables to consider when working on complex and historic structures such as Hammersmith Bridge. This is why specialists are taking the appropriate amount of time to fully understand the likely requirements, options, timescales and costs for repairing the bridge.
TfL and Hammersmith & Fulham Council are currently assessing the large amount of investigation and design work which has taken place, and expects to know more about the likely timeframes and costs for the repairs in August.

Bus route 4

Caroline Pidgeon: I have received a complaint about the curtailment of bus route 4 at Blackfriars station. Previously this provided a key link between Holloway, Highbury and Islington Upper Street with Waterloo and the Southbank. Will you review your decision to cut this route and consider returning it to serve the Southbank and Waterloo station?

The Mayor: As part of its Central London Bus Review, Transport for London (TfL) changed route 4 so that it ends at Blackfriars rather than Waterloo. This was because of the low number of journeys made between Waterloo and areas north of Angel. Bus capacity also exceeded customer demand, leading to road congestion: in the peak hour,35 buses per hour from a number of different routes were running between Waterloo Bridge and Fleet Street, and TfL’s analysis showed that these were half full.
Customers can still travel between Islington and Waterloo by changing to routes 26 or 76 at New Change or route 341 at Angel. My Hopper fare means that customers can interchange without having to pay an additional fare.
TfL is not planning to change route 4 at present, but will continue to monitor all services to ensure that the bus network meets customer demand.

Private Hire (2)

Keith Prince: The Improving safety in PHV consultation closed on 25th June 2018. Since then no findings have been released. Given the statement “it is essential that standards set by TfL ensure passenger safety and provide appropriate levels of service”, does Mayor agree this is an unacceptable length of time?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor's Question 2019/3941.

Photovoltaics and community owned buildings

Caroline Pidgeon: What funding are you making available for community groups to help with the roll- out of photovoltaics on community owned buildings? What representations have you made to Government for additional resource and support for photovoltaics in the capital?

The Mayor: As part of my Solar Action Plan, I launched my £400,000 London Community Energy Fund (LCEF) in 2017 to help community groups develop solar and other energy projects in London. In phases 1 and 2, the LCEF provided grants to 31 different community energy projects in London. These projects are expected to deliver 1.4MW of solar energy, energy efficiency improvements in buildings and EV charging points. Phase 3 of LCEF was launched on 1 July with applications invited by 9 September. I am also working with London boroughs to ensure carbon offset funds are available to community groups.
I have made the case for reinstating the Urban Community Energy fund and tax relief for community energy, and a minimum export tariff for community energy projects, both in consultation responses and meetings with Government officials. In addition, my Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues, has met the Minister of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to raise concerns about the closure of the solar feed-in tariff. She has also written to request that VAT on solar panels not be increased and has responded to consultations on the smart export guarantee, the feed-in tariff closure and clean growth strategy.

Flammable Cladding

Unmesh Desai: The Government is unable to tell us how many buildings across London are affected by flammable cladding. Is the London Fire Brigade conducting a study into this to try and ascertain where flammable cladding, such as that used on buildings such as De Pass Gardens which recently caught fire in Barking, is currently in place?

The Mayor: The responsibility for ensuring buildings are safe for resident’s rests with the Responsible Person (RP) for the premises. The Government’s Building Safety Programme has issued guidance to building owners (RPs) to consider the materials used in the construction of their building facades for buildings over 18 metres. It is anticipated that this guidance will be extended imminently to include buildings below 18 metres. There is also guidance for building owners (RPs) to consider the materials used in the construction of balconies which was a factor at the fire in De Pass Gardens, Barking.

Fire at De Pass Gardens

Unmesh Desai: Barking and Dagenham Council’s response to the fire at De Pass Gardens was commendable. 30 minutes after the initial reports, the Council’s emergency support team was on location, within 2 hours, a rescue-rest centre had been set up and by midnight, the Council had secured a bed in the Borough for every resident who needed it. With the help from Go-Ahead busses and the council’s own passenger transport services, residents were taken to where they needed to be.
Will you be ensuring that the good practice shown by Barking and Dagenham Council on the day of the incident can be learned from and replicated across other boroughs?

The Mayor: The leadership shown by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham following the fire at Samuel Garside House was and continues to be critical in providing help to residents affected by what happened.
I would similarly commend the excellent work of London Fire Brigade, the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance service and other key parties, including officers from Barking Riverside Limited, whose efforts were and continue to be invaluable.
All of these organisations have provided an exemplary response to a very difficult situation and I would strongly encourage others to learn from the examples they have set.

London Living Rent (2)

Tom Copley: Can a new home let as London Living Rent be resold/re-let as Shared Ownership if the original tenants decide to move out? And vice-versa, can a Shared Ownership home subsequently be let as a London Living Rent property? If so, how will this be recorded in your data?

The Mayor: Yes, providers have flexibility to re-let/re-sell units as London Living Rent or Shared Ownership between tenancies. For the second part of your question, see response to Mayor's Question 2019/14463.

London Living Rent (3)

Tom Copley: The City Hall web page on London Living Rent (LLR) states, “The GLA publishes maximum monthly rents by number of bedrooms for new LLR homes (inclusive of service charges) in every ward in London, and updates these figures each September.” Could you confirm that London Living Rent levels do indeed include service charge? If so, would it not be right for London Shared Ownership service charges to be included in the rental portion too?

The Mayor: As stated on the website, London Living Rent rent levels include service charges. The draft London Plan also requires services charges to be taken into account (along with mortgage payments and rent) when assessing the affordability of shared ownership.

Leasehold

Tom Copley: The Government has committed to ending leasehold for all new houses (but not flats), and capping ground rents on new leases to £0. London has a much higher proportion of people living in flats and new build flats than the rest of the country though, so would you work with Government to explore alternatives to leasehold – such as commonhold – so that new build owners in London are not disadvantaged compared to the rest of the country?

The Mayor: I have been calling on Government to improve the leasehold system, which I believe is not fit for purpose, and I will continue to push and work with Ministers to move toward fairer ownership models, such as commonhold, in future.

Gypsy and Traveller Pitches

Tom Copley: Following your responses to questions 2019/6235 and 2019/6236, I welcome your work to encourage boroughs to take up funding for new or remodelled Gypsy and Traveller sites and pitches. However, your response shows that since 2007/08, only 24 new pitches have been provided. The need identified in your new London Plan was for 484. Additional pitches have only been provided in 7 boroughs in the past ten years, while there is an identified need in 30 London Boroughs. Would you consider setting aside a specific funding pot for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation given that recent delivery has been so low?

The Mayor: Funding for new sites and pitches is part of my main Affordable Homes Programme. I do not think a key barrier to more Gypsy and Traveller accommodation is the lack of a specific funding pot. When dedicated national funding was made available in April 2011, there was a lack of take-up from councils, which left much of the budget remaining unallocated. GLA officers are continuing to work with councils to encourage them to access the funding that is available.

GLA Housing Funding

Tom Copley: How much GLA grant funding was spent on the 1,802, 2,462 and 1,150 “open market” homes in each of the last three years, according to the latest GLA Affordable Housing data returns? Given many of these will be for private sale, does the GLA expect to recoup some of this funding?

The Mayor: This information will take time to collate and will be provided in due course.

London Living Rent (1)

Tom Copley: Following your response to questions 2019/12135 and 2019/12136, if the decision as to whether an intermediate home will be used as London Living Rent or London Shared Ownership is left open to the point of first occupation, and you do not know how many London Living Rent homes are currently being let, how do you know whether or not a home is LLR or Shared Ownership? Without this data, how can you evaluate the effectiveness of LLR as a product?

The Mayor: The GLA collects data on the tenure of new homes at the point of completion. Officers are currently in discussions with MHCLG about capturing data on tenure post-completion through the CORE (Continuous Recording) system.

delivering 12500 homes on NHS land

Onkar Sahota: How was the figure of 12500 homes to be delivered on NHS land in London arrived at?

The Mayor: The five London STP Estate Strategies, produced in July 2018, identified an opportunity to release surplus NHS land capable of delivering an estimated 12,500 new homes.

major development sites on NHS land

Onkar Sahota: In response to my question 2019/12224, you said: "The GLA and LEDU are supporting work relating to the Whittington Health Trust estate, King George’s Hospital and Goodmayes Hospital sites in Redbridge, and the St Bernard’s Hospital site in Ealing". When do you expect to know whether these sites can deliver homes and if so, how many?

The Mayor: The work underway on each of these sites is at any early stage and any decisions around releasing land for housing will be subject to individual Trust’s governance processes, and subject to my six assurances about clinical services being met. The Homes for Londoners Board will be kept updated on progress and as set out in my previous response the number of homes to be delivered from these opportunities will be subject to local planning policy.

Wave 4 STP capital funding

Onkar Sahota: What are your priorities for NHS projects to receive wave 4 capital funding from the Government?

The Mayor: The London Health and Care Estate Strategy, endorsed by the London Health Board on 10 July 2019, contains details of the STP wave 4 capital schemes that have received funding from NHS England (see attached appendix).

Affordable Housing Acquisitions

Tom Copley: Could you provide the number of affordable housing acquisitions – as distinct from new build starts and completions – that the GLA has funded in each of the last five years, broken down by London Borough, and including the total amount of grant given in each case.

The Mayor: The GLA Housing and Land team does not collect distinct information on housing acquisitions but the information is available in table 1011 provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Mayor’s Land Fund

Tom Copley: Following your response to question 2019/12132, could you provide: the size of each site in hectares; whether the GLA has purchased the freehold or leasehold, or whether it is a loan facility to the existing land owner; if leasehold, the name of the freeholder; if loan facility, the loan term length and expected return to the GLA.

The Mayor: Information on loan term and expected return is commercially sensitive and has therefore been excluded from the table below.
Site(s)
Total   Investment
The Site Hectares  (ha)
Investment Type
St Ann’s Hospital
£55,697,103
7.31 ha
Freehold land acquisition
Marshgate Lane
£27,905,000
1.28 ha
Loan facility to Anthology (Anthology Development 6 Limited) – existing landowner of the Site.
Woodlands and Master’s House
£21,854,000
0.68 ha
Loan facility to Anthology (Anthology Kennington Stage Limited) – existing landowner of the Site.
Swan Strategic Partnership Sites
£50,000,000
TBC once land acquired.
Loan facility to Swan New Homes Limited – existing landowner of the Site.
Holloway Prison Site
£41,636,000
4.10 ha
Loan facility to Peabody Trust – existing landowner of the Site.
Land at North Middlesex Hospital (LB Enfield)
£13,662,000
1.37 ha
Freehold land acquisition
Colindale Station
£6,342,000
0.76 ha
Grant funding
Total
£217,096,103

breastfeeding on the transport network

Onkar Sahota: What progress has been made to support the commitment in your health inequalities strategy to make a) the transport network and b) city hall more supportive of breastfeeding?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is committed to playing its part in making London a healthier, fairer city. TfL will shortly be updating its ‘Travelling in London when pregnant or with a buggy’ guidance, issued alongside the ‘Baby on Board’ badges, to include a section on infant feeding. TfL will also be publishing the information online, as well as briefing its operational staff. TfL expects to have this information available later in the summer.

distribution of fixed odds betting terminals (2)

Onkar Sahota: Are you aware of how many premises with fixed odds betting terminals there are in each borough? Could you provide a written update with these details?

The Mayor: The 2017 London Town Centre Health Check technical appendix – published on the London Datastore – contains the number of betting shops (as of 2016) within each of London’s larger town centres, and which borough(s) those town centres are within. Please see the attached appendixfor details of the number of betting shops in these town centres by borough. I do not hold a record of whether these betting shops contain fixed odds betting terminals.
The data does not include London’s local and neighbourhood centres, or any betting shops that are outside a town centre.

Re-Opening Hammersmith Bridge (2)

Florence Eshalomi: Can you provide an update as to when TfL expects to have estimated timescales and costs for repairing Hammersmith Bridge?

The Mayor: Please see my answer to Mayor'sQuestion 2019/14554.

Fires affecting rough sleepers (2)

Andrew Dismore: How many fires have there been in London in which a rough sleeper sustained an injury or died as a result of the fire in each year since 2009/10? Please provide this data broken down by borough if possible.

The Mayor: Please see the answer outlined in Mayor's Question 2019/14525.

Taxi and Private Hire Trade (9)

David Kurten: How much money has TfL actually invested in taxis to date (not future investment), excluding licence fees, since they took over running the trade?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor's Question2019/14187.

Taxi and Private Hire Trade (10)

David Kurten: Roundels for Private Hire Vehicles were previously marked with the words ‘Pre-Booked Only’. Will you restore these words on PHV roundels?

The Mayor: Currently private hire vehicles must have licence discs displayed on the front and rear windscreens. They show: the TfL licence number, licence expiry date, vehicle's registration number, and the number of passengers the vehicle is allowed to carry.
Sometimes, private hire vehicles will have an additional pre-booked sticker on display. This is optional and should not be taken as proof that it is a licensed vehicle.
Transport for London is currently considering a range of further signage options following its consultation, ‘Improving Safety in Private Hire Vehicles’. These could potentially include messages such as ‘pre-booked only’ or ‘no booking, no ride’.
Further information regarding the consultation is available on TfL’s website: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/taxis/improving-phv-safety/.

Injured firefighters

Susan Hall: For each of the years July 16 to June 17, July 17 to June 18 and July 18 to June 19, how many firefighters have been:
. Injured
. Seriously injured
. Required hospital treatment
. Attacked/assaulted
. Injured as a result of an attack/assault
. Seriously injured as a result of an attack/assault
. Required hospital treatment as a result of an attack/assault

The Mayor: Please find attached the data as requested.

Brexit and austerity

Andrew Dismore: Has Brexit intensified austerity in London and led to a decline in living standards for Londoners?

The Mayor: Yes. Since the referendum result, a weakened pound has inflated food and energy prices and exacerbated an already challenging cost of living. Economic growth has slowed down and as a result, household incomes are some two per cent lower than they would be had the UK not voted to leave the EU.
This has intensified austerity, which as I set out in MQ 2019/12123 is squeezing the crucial services that vulnerable Londoners rely on. The economic damage that any form of Brexit will bring will push even more Londoners into poverty, and into an already-failing welfare system.
The first priority of the new Prime Minister must be to put an immediate end to the chaos and confusion of Brexit. That means revoking Article 50 and giving the British public the final say on Brexit. This is the only way to protect jobs, growth and prosperity for the next generation.

Rough sleeping outreach services (2)

Tom Copley: Can you confirm that any information given by a member of the public, concerned about the welfare of a rough sleeper in London, through the Streetlink app or website, will be protected by the GDPR and retained only by the relevant local authorities and outreach services, to be used only to assist individual rough sleepers? Please can you provide reassurance to Londoners that their concern and generosity do not unwittingly contribute to what is in my view, the Government’s cruel “Hostile Environment” policy and the deportation of non-UK rough sleepers.

The Mayor: Yes, I confirm that information given through StreetLink is protected by GDPR. An individual’s information is only used to support and assist individual rough sleepers and it is not passed on to other agencies without their informed consent.

Rough sleeping outreach services (1)

Tom Copley: Do the GLA, StreetLink or any of the charities involved in the “TAP London” project participate in the Home Office’s “Rough Sleeper Support Service” (RSSS) programme, and/or pass on personal information about a rough sleeper to the Home Office or other Government agency without the individual’s consent?

The Mayor: Enforcement is not a solution to rough sleeping and our services will have no part in it. I do not support any approach that victimises people sleeping rough and I will continue to advocate for the discriminatory hostile environment to be scrapped. None of the services that the GLA commissions or grant funds, nor members of the London Homelessness Charities Group (the beneficiaries of the donations made by Londoners via TAP London), have passed any information to the Home Office without the individual’s informed consent.

Town Centre Zero Emission

Leonie Cooper: Can the Mayor provide an update on his commitment in the Environment Strategy to deliver town centre zero emission zones from 2020, in addition to the one recently announced in the City Fringe?

The Mayor: TfL and GLA officers are working with borough representatives and other stakeholders to define the core requirements for local zero emission zones. TfL will formally issue guidance on the design and development of zero emission zones to boroughs later this year.
TfL is also collaborating closely with the City of London Corporation on the development of their recently announced zero emission zones, due to be implemented in 2022.

Under 30s spending

Leonie Cooper: The Resolution Foundation found under-30s are spending 7 per cent less than that age group did 18 years ago. Over-65s' spending has risen by 37 per cent. How can you support young Londoners facing increasingly higher costs and wages that are not keeping pace?

The Mayor: I’m acting to reduce the cost of living in London. This includes freezing TfL fares and building more genuinely affordable homes. The Survey of Londoners told us that young parents are one of the groups struggling the most. To help them maximise their incomes I’m promoting affordable childcare and testing an innovative approach to delivering social welfare advice through schools.
I’ve introduced discounted travel for students and first year apprentices, and my Good Work Standard encourages employers to pay the London Living Wage which - unlike the National Living Wage - guarantees equal pay for young people.
I’ve lobbied the Government to reverse its welfare reforms, many of which disproportionately affect younger Londoners. My London Housing Strategy called on the government to review the extension of the LHA Shared Accommodation Rate, and I successfully lobbied them to overturn plans to limit access to housing benefit for 18 to 21-year-olds.

Low Pay Commission consultation

Leonie Cooper: Did you respond to the Low Pay Commission’s consultation into the National Minimum Wage from 2020, and if so, can you share a copy with me?

The Mayor: I didn't respond to the Low Pay Commission's consultation on this occasion. I am vocal in my support for the real Living Wage rate which is a higher than the minimum wage rate the Government is consulting on. Unlike the Living Wage Foundation's rates, it is not calculated according to the cost of living and is, therefore, lower than what people need to afford a decent standard of living.
Last month my statutory Deputy Mayor, Joanne McCartney represented the GLA at a meeting of the Living Wage Commission. This is the decision-making forum considering how to incorporate policy changes and new sources of data into the calculation of the real Living Wage, including the London Living Wage.

Petrol Stations

Nicky Gavron: Does the London Development Database include data on petrol stations? If so, could you provide the number of petrol stations demolished and the number given planning permission in each London Borough in the past five years.

The Mayor: The LDD does not specifically record the loss or gain of petrol stations. However, a search of the address and development descriptions can be used to identify possible sites.
Based on a search for petrol and service stations, a total of 26 have been approved for demolition and 7 new or replacement facilities have been approved between 01/04/2014 and 31/03/2019.
Please see the attached document for details of these permissions.

Safeguarded Wharves Review

Nicky Gavron: Following the Safeguarded Wharves Review 2018, when do you expect to send your recommendations to the Secretary of State?

The Mayor: My officers have considered the submissions received on the Safeguarded Wharves Review and are preparing to begin targeted consultation shortly. Some minor clarifications to wharf boundaries may be required in response to the submissions received, so this further consultation is required before I submit my recommendations to the Secretary of State later this year.

Intimate Theatre

Joanne McCartney: Further to MQ 2018/2866, what recent steps have you taken to help save the Intimate Theatre in Enfield?

The Mayor: Small theatres like the Intimate Theatre are a vital part of London's cultural ecology. They keep London's creative talent pipeline flowing and foster community cohesion. Since your last question in October, a planning application to redevelop the theatre has been formally submitted. While the planning application is not referable to me, my Culture at Risk officer is submitting representations to Enfield Council, the planning authority, to ensure that policies in my new London Plan are considered as part of the planning decision in order to keep the theatre open. This is the most pro-culture London Plan ever. New policies include a dedicated chapter on arts and culture, which requires local authorities to protect existing cultural venues at risk of redevelopment.

Park Toilet Facilities

Joanne McCartney: A constituent has asked me to ask what steps are you taking to encourage boroughs to improve access to toilet facilities in London’s parks? Many toilets close earlier than the parks, which means park users no longer have access to those facilities.

The Mayor: Public toilets are a vital facility, providing Londoners and visitors with the confidence to move around and spend time in public spaces.
The provision, management and improvement of toilet facilities in London’s parks is outside of my powers. It primarily lies with the boroughs and other organisations responsible for managing parks. Unfortunately, many boroughs have had to reduce the provision of toilet facilities in parks due to the significant drop in funding as a result of years of austerity.
Where they continue to provide facilities, they are now often integrated into, and managed as part of other facilities, such as cafes. Whilst this provides an efficient way to both keep and maintain public toilets it often means their opening hours are aligned with those of other park facilities.
More generally, to ensure more public toilets are provided, my draft London Plan contains policy guidance on the provision of new free publicly accessible toilets in large scale commercial developments. This sends out a clear message that there is a need to provide public toilets across London.

Young Londoners Fund and Hackney

Jennette Arnold: How is funding from the Young Londoners Fund being used to tackle issues of serious youth violence in Hackney?

The Mayor: The Young LondonersFund is helpingchildren and young people to fulfil their potential, particularly those at risk of getting caught up in crime. It issupporting a range of education, sport, cultural and other activities for young Londoners. The Young Londoners Fund is part of my public health approach to reducing violence and works alongside my Violence Reduction Unit.
24 projects working with young people from Hackney were awarded grants through the first round of the Young Londoners Fund. These projects plan to support over 1,800 young people from the borough who are at risk of social exclusion or involvement in criminal activity or are already involved in criminal activity.
For example, ELATT is running the Connected Youth project. This will provide intensive support for young people who are at risk of exclusion from school and have not succeeded within mainstream education settings. It offers a holistic package including one-to-one mentoring, taster vocational sessions and formal training or work experience. Further information about all the Young Londoners Fund projects can be found at www.london.gov.uk/young-londoners-fund

counterfeit tobacco and alcohol

Onkar Sahota: In your health inequalities strategy, you address the issue of counterfeit tobacco and alcohol. What actions have been taken to meet the aims of the strategy in this area?

The Mayor: The availability of counterfeit tobacco and alcohol in London undermines efforts to improve health and tackle health inequalities. Many Londoners have been offered cheaper counterfeit products which evade tax and encourage young people to start a smoking habit that they then find hard to stop.
GLA officers are part of the Pan-London Illegal Tobacco Steering Group, which has undertaken work to optimise the impact of enforcement – including targeted local operations and a review of sanctions in London.
They are currently seeking ways to better coordinate action and information sharing across the city to tackle the supply of illegal tobacco and counterfeit alcohol. This will require joint action with local boroughs, trading standards, HMRC, Police, and magistrates.
London has also seen the 3rd annual Stamp it Out campaign which aims to make it less socially acceptable to buy and sell illegal tobacco, with awareness raising roadshows being held around the Capital.

distribution of fixed odds betting terminals (1)

Onkar Sahota: In addressing the impact of gambling outlets, particularly fixed odds betting terminals, what support have you given to boroughs in their management of the planning and licensing conditions for these businesses?

The Mayor: My draft London Plan is clear that development plans and development proposals should manage clusters of commercial uses – including betting shops – having regard to the impact on town centre vitality, sustainability, place-making, community safety, and mental and physical health and wellbeing. I do not have powers or responsibilities relating to the licensing of gambling premises. However, my draft London Plan encourages boroughs to take a co-ordinated approach between the planning and licensing systems when developing town centre strategies.

Rail Grinding between Victoria and Pimlico (2)

Tony Devenish: Will TfL be using a machine grinder?

The Mayor: Yes, Transport for London will be using a grinding machine to carry out rail grinding between Victoria and Pimlico from October 2019.

LGBTQ+ venues

Caroline Pidgeon: Further to your press release of 5th July 2019 revealing new figures on London’s LGBTQ+ venues please state what steps are being taken to increase the number of venues across London that are signed up City Hall’s LGBTQ+ Venues Charter.

The Mayor: My LGBTQ+ Venues Charter is a pledge for pubs and venue operators to commit to maintaining London’s LGBTQ+ venues. My Night Czar has written to all 51 of London’s LGBTQ+ venues asking them to sign up to the charter and so far over 50 per centhave done so. She is also promoting the charter through the quarterly meetings of the LGBTQ+ Venues Forum, through her meetings and engagements, and through social media.
In addition, my new London Plan helps safeguard our LGBTQ+ venues and my Cultural Infrastructure Map makes them more visible which will help boroughs and developers protect LGBTQ+ venues through the planning process.

Improvements to junctions (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: Following the coroner’s report sent to Wandsworth Council after the death of Lucia Ciccioli the council informed the coroner that TfL would lead on any remedial works. Please set out when improvements to the Lavender Hill junction will be published.

The Mayor: As set out in the response to the Coroner’s prevention of future deaths report, Transport for London is working with the London Borough of Wandsworth to redesign the junction. It will set out next steps by December 2019, including dates for public consultation.Subject to the consultation responses, necessary approvals and available funding, construction could begin in 2020.

PM2.5 Composition (1)

David Kurten: What is the composition of the different elements and compounds in PM2.5s above ground?

The Mayor: The composition of PM2.5 varies with location, time of year and during pollutions episodes. PM2.5 concentrations are composed of primary particulates (mainly emitted from local sources), secondary particulates (mainly from distant sources and sometimes referred to as regional background). In London around half the fine particulate matter is regional background.
The Air Quality Expert Group state in their “Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in the United Kingdom” report that at a central urban background location the composition of PM2.5 is as follows: Iron-rich dusts (6%), Calcium salts (3%), Sodium chloride (4%), Elemental carbon (11%), Organics (26%), Ammonium Sulphate (24%), Ammonium and sodium nitrate (21%), Other (5%).

financial benefits of warmer homes (3)

Onkar Sahota: What is the total budget for the warmer homes scheme and what is the target number of homes in each sector you aim to support with it?

The Mayor: The first phase of my Warmer Homes scheme was open from January 2018 until February 2019 and provided £4.525m of funding to address fuel poverty by providing up to £4,000 to install energy efficiency measures in the homes of qualifying applicants. There was a target of a minimum of 1,106 homes to be supported overall, with a minimum of 50 people supported in the privately rented sector.
The second phase of Warmer Homes will provide a further £4.75m to deliver energy efficiency measures to fuel poor households for up to two years (2019 to 2021). There is a target of 1,188 homes to be supported across the owner occupier and privately rented sectors.

PM2.5 Composition (3)

David Kurten: Do you consider that total PM2.5 concentration is a good measure of assessing the health risk of particulate matter, or would it be better to measure and report the PM2.5 concentrations of individual chemicals and material groups such as iron, carbon, pollens, salt, upholstery fabrics? Given your differing and incompatible narratives on the risk of tube dust above and below ground, do you think a rethink is necessary to move towards reporting separate PM2.5 levels rather than total PM2.5 levels as a global standard?

The Mayor: My approach of looking at total PM2.5 reflects established legal practice and is consistent with the recommendations produced by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is appropriate that I use these best practice, evidence-based standards rather than develop a separate approach.
The WHO's guidelines were last updated in 2006. In 2016 the WHO announced a review of these guidelines as the evidence base for adverse health effects related to short - and long-term exposure to some pollutants has become much larger and broader. I anticipate this review will soon be complete. London will continue to take its lead from the expert consensus of the WHO.
For PM2.5, the current EU and UK annual mean limit is double the WHO limit. In 2017 London was the first world megacity to sign up to the WHO/ UNEP Breathe Life Campaign, which pledges to meet the World Health Organization guidelines for PM2.5 by 2030. I urge the UK government to also adopt this target as a legally binding requirement in the forthcoming Environment Bill to ensure the protection of human health.
The Department of Health’s independent expert Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) have stated that it is not possible to determine the nature and extent of any health risk to those travelling on the London Underground and it merits further research. TfL continue to closely monitor dust levels on the Tube and through a wide range of measures to ensure that particle levels are well within Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulatory limits.

financial benefits of warmer homes (2)

Onkar Sahota: What is the average income of the households that have benefited from your warmer homes scheme?

The Mayor: My Warmer Homes scheme provides support to people who are in or at risk of being in fuel poverty by providing up to £4,000 of energy efficiency improvements in the homes of qualifying applicants.
Final installation of measures is currently underway, and once complete, my officers will evaluate the full scheme and report figures on the average income of households that have benefitted from the scheme.

financial benefits of warmer homes (1)

Onkar Sahota: What was the average financial saving per year of the homes refitted under your warmer homes scheme?

The Mayor: My Warmer Homes scheme provides support to people who are in or at risk of being in fuel poverty by providing up to £4,000 of energy efficiency improvements in the homes of qualifying applicants.
Final installation of measures is currently underway, and once complete, my officers will evaluate the full scheme and report figures on the average financial saving per year.

Wildlife corridors (3)

Steve O'Connell: Will you commit to including support for wildlife corridors in appropriate supplementary planning guidance for the new London Plan, particularly in relation to policies G1 and G6?

The Mayor: My draft London Plan seeks to protect and enhance London’s green infrastructure and biodiversity; the role of wildlife corridors is recognised as part of this. Further support for wildlife corridors will be provided through guidance to support the implementation of the London Plan and Environment Strategy. Please see also the response to Mayor's Question 2019/14361.

Wildlife corridors (1)

Steve O'Connell: Will you commit to including support for wildlife corridors in your forthcoming guidance to the London Environment Strategy?

The Mayor: Yes. Guidance on the conservation of priority habitats and priority species is already in preparation and will be published later this year.This will include support for wildlife corridors and ecological connections between existing sites of importance for nature conservation and other areas of wildlife habitat.
My Greener City Fund is already supporting the management and improvement of green corridors. The third round of the community green space grant is currently open for applications until the 30th September.Guidance on making an application is available on the GLA website.Grants will be awarded at the end of this year for projects taking place during 2020.

Fintech and debt

Tony Devenish: What is the balance we need to strike in supporting Fintech whilst ensuring young and low pay consumers understand the payment terms with companies such as Clearpay and Klarna? What are you as Mayor doing to avoid a debt crisis?

The Mayor: Financial technology is transforming the financial sector through a wide range of mobile banking services, inter-bank transfers and payments peer-to-peer lending and more. With digital innovation, financial services and policymaking all concentrated in London, we have emerged as a world-leader in FinTech.
While ‘Buy now, pay later’ credit can offer shoppers flexibility, it can also become an expensive option if they exceed any interest- free limit. My survey of Londoners showed that nearly 40 per cent of Londoners owe money on unsecured debt, either through loans, credit cards or household bills, and that a quarter of Londoners – equivalent to 600,000 – find keeping up with their debt a serious burden.
As Mayor, I want to see the Fintech sector innovating in a way which ensures that it can both continue to flourish and ensure consumers are properly informed and protected.

EU referendum

Tony Devenish: What do you say, as Mayor of London, to the 26 MPs who have written to the Leader of HM Opposition asking for him not to back a 2nd Referendum and to back a deal by 31st October?

The Mayor: Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal was resoundingly rejected by Parliament three times. Regardless of who is selected, the next Prime Minister will face the same problems as their predecessor: a parliament that is deadlocked and a withdrawal agreement that the EU have made clear is not up for negotiation.
The Government’s mishandling of Brexit over the last three years has left us now facing the prospect of a ‘no deal.’ It is a million miles away from what was promised during the EU referendum campaign, and poses huge risks.
That’s why I am pleased that Labour has made clear that the public must be given the final say on Brexit, with an option to stay in the EU. It would be completely undemocratic for the big unresolved questions of our country’s future relationship with the EU to rest solely on a mandate given by the membership of the Conservative party.

Technology ecosystem cluster

Tony Devenish: What lessons can you learn from Atlassian partnership with Sydney local government to create a technology ecosystem cluster?

The Mayor: London is the technology capital of Europe and many tech companiesrecognise this fact, signalling a long-term commitment to our city with significant investments.The London technology ecosystem is already a mature cluster, and we are now seeing furtherclustering forming across the wider landscape from the Knowledge Quarter toQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the newly openedWhite City Campus.
Collaboration between the public and private sector is key to inclusive growth across London and I am very open to the idea ofinnovative partnerships with the tech sector for the benefit of Londoners. Recently, for example, I announced a partnership with Apple to launch free coding, producing and film-making workshops for young Londoners at risk of being caught up in gangs.
I extend my congratulations to Sydney on its partnership with Atlassian and am pleased to see them following London’s lead.

Privatisation of energy companies

Tony Devenish: Given the Mayor’s efforts to reduce energy bills through his Energy for Londoners scheme, does the Mayor also acknowledge that nationally costs to consumers have fallen 17% and there are 60% fewer power cuts because more than £100 billion has been invested by energy infrastructure companies since privatisation?

The Mayor: I am aware of these figures.However, network costs, which these refer to, only account for a quarter of the typical household bill.Consumers feel the impact of the whole energy bill.The introduction of the price cap shows that even the Government acknowledges the energy market is not working for consumers. Money Saving Expert say that consumers can pay over £350 per year less than the price cap.This dysfunctional energy market hits Londoners particularly hard.The latest statistics show that although fuel poverty decreased across England, it increased to nearly 12 per cent of Londoners with nearly 400,000 London households now meeting the Government’s definition of fuel poverty.This increase was spread across London, across 32 of the 33 Boroughs.That is why I want to bring fairer energy prices to all Londoners through a new energy company for London.

Degree level apprenticeships in Chartered Town Planning

Nicky Gavron: This month, London South Bank University announced it would be starting the first degree-level apprenticeships in Chartered Town Planning from September. Given the shortage of planning expertise in the public sector, this is a great initiative, and would you consider using your Adult Education Budget responsibilities to support apprentice planners through the GLA and London Boroughs?

The Mayor: Delegation of the Adult Education Budget to City Hall does not include apprenticeships. HM Government continue to hold responsibility for this area.
I welcome London South Bank University offering the first degree-level apprenticeship in chartered Town Planning. I hope this will help to address the skills shortages in the sector and the challenges local planning authorities face in recruiting planners in London.
Building more capacity in the sector is a priority for delivering Good Growth. This is why I supported the establishment of Public Practice, as part of my Good Growth by Design Programme, to increase the built environment expertise in local government in London and open up the profession to those who may not have otherwise entered this sector.
I am also continuing to call for devolution of apprenticeships to City Hall, to enable us to better meet London’s skills needs and ensure that Londoners and London’s businesses have greater access to the opportunities apprenticeships can provide.

London’s Theatres

Nicky Gavron: London’s theatres and playwrights are the envy of other Cities around the world. However, we know that Theatre companies, and particularly small Theatre companies are struggling financially. Would the Mayor consider launching a London wide fund to subsidise theatres, including small theatres in London, ensuring that London maintains its position as a centre of excellence?

The Mayor: Theatres are a vital part of London's cultural ecology. They keep London's creative talent pipeline flowing and foster community cohesion. However, some theatres, especially those at the grassroots, face challenges due to national cuts to arts funding from Government, as well as rising rents and rates.
I have supported theatres through my Good Growth Fund, including Southwark Playhouse in Elephant and Castle, Polka Theatre in Merton, The Yard in Hackney Wick, National Youth Theatre in Holloway Road, Mountview in Peckham and The Granada in Walthamstow. My Culture at Risk office and Night Czar have also helped over 30 theatres, playing a key role in ensuring small theatres remain open including Camden People’s Theatre and Theatre Deli.
Arts Council England is the national funding and development body for the arts, and it provides revenue support many of London’s theatres. The Theatres Trust has also set up a grant scheme for small theatres in London, it will announce details of recipients and the next round soon. I will continue to lobby the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to ensure that the capital, including its important small theatres, gets a fair deal in future funding settlements.

Brownfield Homes

Nicky Gavron: What percentage of new homes in London have been built on brownfield sites in each of the last five years?

The Mayor: The percentage of residential units completed on brownfield sites as reported in each of the last five London Plan Annual Monitoring Reports is as follows:

Tube Delays

Keith Prince: Please state the number of delays across the Tube network, broken down by the reason for delay and date since 2015/16.

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) carries over 1.3bn customers on the London Underground each year. The first week of December 2018 was the busiest in the Tube’s history, with more than 30 million journeys made, and on Friday 7 December TfL had its busiest day ever, with 5.031 million journeys made.
Tube delays on the Tube are at a four year low, but TfL is always trying to find ways to improve the reliability of the network. TfL is investing over £5 billion into a new, modern signalling system on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines which will increase capacity on those lines by 33 per cent when complete in 2023. TfL has also created a team focused on tackling signalling issues which has helped to reduce signal failures by 12.9 per cent in the last year.
Please see attachment for the information you have requested.

Pre-planning Application Meeting Service (1)

Nicky Gavron: Could you provide the total amount of money received by the GLA through its “Pre-planning application meeting service” in each of the past five years?

The Mayor: The total amount received in the last five years is detailed below.

106 Agreements

Nicky Gavron: Could you provide a list of schemes where the GLA and/or TfL are party to a Section 106 agreement with a developer, and a link to each document where available?
Could you provide a detailed statement of the total sums of money received by the GLA and TfL through Section 106 agreements, and how and where this has been spent, for each of the past five years?

The Mayor: Section 106 agreements are entered into by developers and the local planning authority and are used to mitigate the impact of development on the local area and community. The GLA and TfL are party to a large number of Section 106 agreements. These Section 106 agreements contain contributions to mitigate particular adverse impact of planning proposals ranging in scale from several thousand points (i.e. for minor public realm works) to several million pounds (i.e. for the delivery of step free access to a station).
The responsibility to monitor the receipt and use of Section 106 payments rests with the relevant local planning authority therefore there is difficulty in obtaining the information requested. GLA officers are happy to meet to discuss the GLA and TfL’s role in Section 106 obligations delivery in more detail if required.

Pre-planning Application Meeting Service (3)

Nicky Gavron: Through your “Pre-planning application meeting service”, does the GLA give advice, guidance or support to developers on how to best engage and consult with local community members?

The Mayor: Officers at the pre-application meetings advise and strongly encourage developers to engage meaningfully with the local community. Each borough is required to have a Statement of Community Engagement which will set out how developers should engage with the community.

Pre-planning Application Meeting Service (2)

Nicky Gavron: Is the money received through the GLA’s “Pre-planning application meeting service” ring-fenced in any way?

The Mayor: Section 93 (3) of the Local Government Act 2003 (Power to charge for discretionary services) states that authorities “are subject to a duty to secure that, taking one financial year with another, the income from charges under the subsection does not exceed the costs of provision”. As such, in line with this legislation, all funds received are used for the delivery of planning services by the GLA.This has enabled investment in the service, including the formation of a viability team, without increasing the burden on the tax payer.

Illness on the Tube

Keith Prince: Giving a breakdown by Tube line, please state how many people have been taken ill on the Tube each month since 2015/16.

The Mayor: Please see attached thebreakdown by month, by line, of incidents recorded of customers being taken ill on the Tube since 2015. The number of incidents has remained broadly stable with 115 incidents occurring on average per month. This is against a backdrop of growing passenger numbers and services, with nearly 5 million passenger journeys made per day.
There are a number of reasons why passengers may be taken ill on the Tube, which could include pre-existing medical conditions, lack of sufficient food or water, excessive alcohol consumption, or other factors.
Transport for London’s (TfL’s) Travel Better London and Travel Kind campaigns have been highlighting the small steps customers can take to minimise the risk of falling ill on the Tube, help prevent delays, and make journeys run smoothly for them and their fellow passengers. Tips for customers include carrying water, as well as disembarking or helping others off the train if they feel ill, so that staff we can provide better care on the platform.

Improving public safety in private hire vehicles and taxis

Caroline Pidgeon: To improve passenger safety and the standard of driving will you consider a separate higher level of driving test as a requirement before any driver is licensed to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle in London?

The Mayor: Please see my response toMayor's Question 2019/3941.

Air Quality

Leonie Cooper: When will you publish the GLA’s annual compendium of borough air quality activity? Which activities are included?

The Mayor: The most recent compendium of borough action was published in February of this year, and can be found here: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/borough_air_quality_report_2018_final.pdf
The report summarises air quality action and monitoring data from every London borough. Air quality action is summarised under the following categories:
The next report will be published winter 2019/20.

Grenfell Tower

Caroline Pidgeon: The answer to a recent parliamentary question asked by the MP for Croydon North revealed that the Government is refusing to answer questions about whether Government ministers, including the former Minister for London and Housing Minister Gavin Barwell, have been asked questions under caution over their involvement in the Grenfell fire tragedy, stating it is a matter for the Metropolitan Police to disclose the names of the those they have questioned as part of their investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire. Do you support this information being made public and will you encourage the Metropolitan Police to publish this information?

The Mayor: I understand and empathise with the frustration caused by the lack of information currently available about who has or has not been interviewed under caution.
However, the decisions regarding what aspects of the investigation should and should not be put into the public domain are complex given an investigation of this size and sensitivity. They remain a matter for the Metropolitan Police, who are conducting the investigation, in order to enable them to preserve its integrity and to bring those responsible to account.

Old Oak Park Royal Development Corporation Community Review Group

Caroline Pidgeon: Will you ensure that all of the work of the Community Review Group is open and transparent, including all its reports being regularly published on the OPDC website?

The Mayor: As a Mayoral Development Corporation, OPDC is committed to ensuring its work is open, transparent and where restrictions do not apply, published on its website www.london.gov.uk/opdc.
Information about the Community Review Group (CRG) is published on OPDC’s dedicated CRG webpage here alongside information about the group’s terms of reference and membership, which can be found here in the CRG Handbook. All of this information has been in the public domain since November 2018.
Community Review Reports produced by the CRG will be uploaded onto OPDC’s webpages once the planning applications they are assessing have been submitted.

Refill

Leonie Cooper: How are you working with businesses displaying the Refill sticker to ensure all staff are aware of and fulfil requests to refill a bottle?

The Mayor: The Refill London programme has so far increased the number of refill points across London from 200 to over 2,400 including the sign up of many chains such as Costa Coffee, Wholefoods and Leon.
At the request of the GLA, City to Sea, who we are working with to deliver the scheme, have appointed a London Coordinator to ensure the programme continues to develop and that participants are trained and delivering on their commitment. London is the only region to have a coordinator who is continuously engaging with businesses as well as community groups on the programme.
The Refill London website also hosts specific on-line resource packs to help businesses deliver on their commitment. GLA officers worked on the development of these packs and they include information on the importance of educating staff about participation in the programme.

Old Oak Park Royal Development Corporation lack of published expenditure

Caroline Pidgeon: The most recent details of expenditure that have been published online by OPDC is for the period from 1st April 2016 to 17th September 2016. Please set out why detailed expenditure of any item above £250 has not been published over the last three years and confirm when this will be rectified.

The Mayor: The reports detailing expenditure of any item above £250 were not published due to a technical issue with the reporting function on the finance system, that is acknowledged should have been rectified earlier. OPDC will update its publication scheme and work with the Digital team to upload all of the backdated reports for 1 September 2019.

Salaries of Senior Staff at TfL

David Kurten: To ask the Mayor what results have been obtained during his mayoralty in reducing the exorbitant salaries being paid at the top of TfL?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has taken huge strides in cutting its year-on-year operating costs.
Since the start of my mayoral term, I have overseen a reduction in the number of employees earning a base salary in excess of £100k by 11.2 per cent (from 188 to 167 at the end of 2018/19). Over the same period, the number of senior managers has also decreased by 8.7 per cent (from 1,323 to 1,208).
I have also frozen the salaries for TfL senior executives for the duration of my first term, whilst also implementing a rigorous assurance process for any new roles with a base salary in excess of £100k.

The Composition of TfL’s Board

David Kurten: On 30 March 2016, whilst running for the office of Mayor of London, you stated that London's transport authority was far too dominated by white men.1 At that point, there were 13 white men on TfL’s board and three women. You stated that you would ensure the board better reflected the ‘diversity’ of Londoners if you became mayor. Could you please tell me what the ethnic and gender composition of TfL’s board is today?
1https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2016/03/30/sadiq-khan-there-are-too-many-white-men-on-transport-for-lon

The Mayor: The membership of the TfL Board is published on tfl.gov.uk. During my time as Mayor, I have appointed the most diverse Board in TfL’s history, making it far more representative of the city it serves. The TfL Board currently comprises 14 members including myself, of which eight are women and four are BAME.

London Fire Brigade Watch Officers

David Kurten: Is there a shortfall in the number of London Fire Brigade watch officers and if so, why?

The Mayor: There are no vacancies at Watch Manager B or Crew Manager level. There are currently 42 vacancies for Watch Manager A’s but a promotion process is underway and these will be filled within the next three weeks.

Car Free Day (4)

Leonie Cooper: How are you communicating the benefits of Car Free Day to Londoners?

The Mayor: I will be hosting an event called ‘Reimagine’ on Car Free Day. A wide range of fun and inclusive activities will enable Londoners to see our city from a new perspective and to reflect on the benefits of our streets being less dominated by cars. It will promote sustainable travel, improvements to air quality and a reduction in car use.
At least 19 London boroughs are also participating in Car Free Day this year - either by hosting their own events and/or supporting residents to organise Play Streets. Through active and coordinated participation in Car Free Day across London, we can effectively demonstrate and communicate the benefits.

Rejected waste

Leonie Cooper: It wasrecently reported thatalmost 5 per cent of recyclable rubbish in England was rejected with most declined waste being sent to landfill or incinerated. What is the figure in London? Please break down by Borough with data back to 2011.

The Mayor: Official figures are not available for London's recyclable waste rejected and sent to landfill or incineration. This is because the Government does not provide a regional breakdown of local authority waste data reported through its Waste Data Flow tool. It is estimated that between five and ten per cent of London's recyclable material is rejected from material recycling facilities, mostly due to residual waste contaminating recyclable material.

TfL Cost Cutting Causing Noise Nuisance

Jennette Arnold: Constituents have reported noise at Chingford Station began when TfL and Arriva stopped ‘lowering the pans’ overnight in a bid to reduce staff costs for doing this. Where else on the TfL tube and rail network have cost cutting measures resulted in a significant disturbance to residents?

The Mayor: Transport for London always works with local communities to be a considerate neighbour and keeps noise to a minimum across its network as far as practicable.
The activity you refer to is not a cost-cutting measure or a bid to reduce staff costs. The pantographs (which are retractable overhead devices which power the train by picking up electricity from overhead wires) are not lowered because trains are kept powered overnight to protect the start of passenger service. The trains are over 30 years old and are less reliable when started after a period without power. Power is also necessary for overnight cleaning and essential maintenance carried out in the short overnight period when these units are out of passenger service. The new Class 710 trains that are planned to be introduced on the Liverpool Street to Chingford line later this year will be more efficient and considerably quieter.

Rail Grinding between Victoria and Pimlico (3)

Tony Devenish: Do TfL intend to grind all 940 metres of the southbound track i.e. the whole curved section from Victoria to Pimlico minus the platform areas?

The Mayor: A detailed programme will be available from September 2019, and I have asked Transport for London to update you once this is available.

Sound for electric buses

Caroline Pidgeon: TfL has been testing futuristic sounds for electric buses to alert those with visual impairments that the vehicle is approaching. I understand that these have raised concern with disability campaign groups. What work is being done to ensure that an appropriate noise is developed for electric buses?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is at an early stage of developing an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System sound for quiet-running buses in London, but has already engaged extensively with stakeholders including accessibility groups, road users, passengers and its bus operators. Most of these groups sent representatives to give feedback at an initial series of workshops on conceptual sounds, and the same groups will be asked back to comment on the suitability and effectiveness of options once these have been refined further.

Pandrol Vanguard (5)

Tony Devenish: How successful is the installation of ‘under rail’ pads for alleviating noise at track level on lines with Pandrol Vanguard?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is still assessing the impact of under-rail pads.
TfL is currently trialling methods of reducing in-carriage noise, which includes under-rail pads, at priority sites. Further installation work is due to be carried out from August 2019, with assessments due to be carried out by autumn 2019.

Rail Grinding between Victoria and Pimlico (1)

Tony Devenish: Precisely when in October is the regrinding work between Victoria and Pimlico Stations scheduled to take place?

The Mayor: A detailed programme will be available from September 2019, and I have asked Transport for London to update you once this is available.

Pandrol Vanguard (6)

Tony Devenish: Is TfL seriously considering removing Pandrol Vanguard, possibly even on Pimlico’s northbound track?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has found that while resilient track fastenings have often delivered a benefit in terms of reducing disturbance for residents, they are also associated with increased in-carriage noise for both customers and staff. TfL has a duty to balance the interests of residents with those of users of the network.
The installation of track fastenings across the Tube network is currently paused, while TfL assesses the success of this type of mitigation. Only once this review has concluded will TfL make a decision on whether to remove track fastenings.

Pandrol Vanguard (1)

Tony Devenish: What is TfL’s evidence for suggesting that Pandrol Vanguard is not safe to attach to wooden sleepers?

The Mayor: Transport for London’s (TfL’s) engineers have met with the manufacturer (Pandrol) to discuss a track fastening for timber sleepers, and has not received sufficient assurances that the product is suitable for use on the Tube network. As you will understand, safety must always be TfL’s first priority.
The installation of track fastenings across the Tube network is currently paused, while TfL assesses the success of this type of mitigation.

Pandrol Vanguard (2)

Tony Devenish: Has TfL tried other suppliers for long-term solutions or consulted with other worldwide experts?

The Mayor: While Transport for London (TfL) is not currently aware of any other suppliers with a resilient track fastening product that is used with timber sleepers, it will continue to collaborate with academics and suppliers to develop new noise reduction technology that can be used on its network.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (12)

Andrew Boff: Please can you provide the average delay times for underground trains North of the river over the last year?

The Mayor: The average delay for London Underground trains north of the river over the last year is 5.27 minutes.
Tube delays are at a four year low, but TfL is always trying to find ways to improve the reliability of the network. TfL is investing over £5 billion into a new, modern signalling system on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines which will increase capacity on those lines by 33 per cent when complete in 2023. TfL has also created a team focused on tackling signalling issues which has helped to reduce signal failures by 12.9 per cent in the last year.

Old Oak Park Royal Development Corporation’s Housing Infrastructure Fund application

Caroline Pidgeon: While accepting some details might be commercially confidential and redacted will you publish OPDC’s HIF application for funding?

The Mayor: The Housing Infrastructure Fund Expression of Interest and Outline Business Case are commercially sensitive documents; an agreed position shared by both OPDC and MHCLG.
The volume of work required to review and identify potentially exempt information would impose an unreasonable burden upon the organisation, which is the basis of a redacted version of the application not being published.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (11)

Andrew Boff: Please can you provide the average delay times for underground trains South of the river over the last year?

The Mayor: The average delay for London Underground trains south of the river over the last year is 3.54 minutes.
Tube delays are at a four year low, but TfL is always trying to find ways to improve the reliability of the network. TfL is investing over £5 billion into a new, modern signalling system on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines which will increase capacity on those lines by 33 per cent when complete in 2023. TfL has also created a team focused on tackling signalling issues which has helped to reduce signal failures by 12.9 per cent in the last year.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (17)

Andrew Boff: How many incidents of signal failure occurred on the London underground North of the river in the last year?

The Mayor: On the London Underground network, 1,339 incidents of signal failure occurred in the last year north of the river, compared with 78 incidents in the south. Since 2016/17 rates of signal failure have improved by 7 per cent and 7.7 per cent respectively.
The majority of signal failures occur in the north, as this is where 89.5 per cent of the Tube network’s signals are located, including critical junctions such as Edgware, Paddington, Earl’s Court, Aldgate, Baker Street and Camden Town.
Transport for London’s new digital signalling system currently being installed on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines will transform the oldest parts of the Tube network into one of the most modern railways in the world. It will make journeys quicker and more reliable, and increase capacity of a third on the four lines, equivalent to the space for an extra 36,500 customers during peak times.
The first section of brand-new signalling is now operating reliably between Hammersmith and Latimer Road, the first part of the network to benefit from the improvements. Further rollout is underway and the project is targeted for completion in 2023.

A Toll on Hammersmith Bridge (1)

Florence Eshalomi: Stephen Greenhalgh has said, “If I were the directly-elected Mayor [of Hammersmith & Fulham], I would borrow the money to fix Hammersmith Bridge and set the borrowings against a road user charge for both buses and cars if TfL refused to stump up their fair share. The GLA Act allows both boroughs and the Mayor to levy road user charges.” Can you confirm that the GLA Act says Boroughs may introduce charging but will first need the agreement of the Mayor?

The Mayor: Under Schedule 23 of the GLA Act, any borough-proposed road user charging scheme needs to be confirmed by the Mayor. However, it is premature to consider the types of funding that will be used to pay for repairs to Hammersmith Bridge until a preferred option has been selected and the associated costs are understood. Without knowing how much the work will cost, we can’t know the most appropriate funding stream.
The immediate focus is on completing the ongoing investigation, design and assessment work in order to arrive at properly costed options for the repairs as soon as possible. Transport for London will then work with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to identify appropriate funding once a preferred option has been agreed.

A Toll on Hammersmith Bridge (2)

Florence Eshalomi: Should Stephen Greenhalgh become Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham would you be inclined to allow him to impose a toll on Hammersmith Bridge?

The Mayor: Please see my answer to Mayor’s Question 2019/14552.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (18)

Andrew Boff: How many incidents of signal failure occurred on the London underground South of the river in the last year?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor's Question 2019/14317.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (19)

Andrew Boff: How many London Underground trains were defective whilst North of the river in the last year?

The Mayor: The majority of the Tube network is located in the north, where 71 per cent of journeys start and end. 4,596 London Underground trains were defective whilst north of the river in the last year.
There are eight types of passenger rolling stock in use on the London Underground network, operating on 11 lines. The trains span a broad spectrum of age and technology, causing variation in reliability and performance. Transport for London is working to improve reliability and customer satisfaction through maintaining and replacing its rolling stock.
In the north, the entire 1973 Piccadilly line fleet will be replaced with 94 state-of-the-art, air-conditioned trains starting to arrive in passenger service from 2024. Rolling stock on other lines will be replaced at the end of their 40-year operational life from the 2030s.
Ongoing investment to extend the life of trains is also ensuring the continued reliable operation of the fleet and minimising the likelihood of further degradation of assets until they are replaced.

Ride-hailing Apps (5)

David Kurten: How many ride-hailing app operators are licenced by TfL?

The Mayor: As noted in my response to Mayor's Question2019/14248, ride-hailing has no legal definition.
Transport for London licences a number of private hire operators that offer app-based services or the ability to engage services via an app. However, as these companies are not defined by the type of operating model they employ, it is not possible to isolate the number of companies that use these apps.

Council Tax

Tony Devenish: What do you propose to do to tackle the burden on poor Londoners of council tax noting that the Institute of Public Policy Research says the poorest Londoners pay 8.1% of household income to council tax?

The Mayor: There is widespread agreement that council tax in its current form does not work, is regressive and is being stretched to breaking point with the Government giving me little choice but to increase my precept by 5.1% in 2018-19 and a further 8.9% in 2019-20.
The London Finance Commission reports in 2013 and 2017 called on the Government to devolve to London’s government the powers to redesign council tax so that it worked better for the city. I, and London Councils, both supported that, yet the Government have pointedly refused this call.

Taxi and Private Hire Trade (3)

David Kurten: Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander has been in her position for over a year, but has not met all the Licenced Taxi trade organisations in an official capacity. Why is this? Do you agree this only exacerbates the deep anxieties many drivers have for theirs and the trade’s future under your administration?

The Mayor: My Deputy Mayor for Transport has met with a number of trade organisations from both the taxi and private hire industries on multiple occasions.
Taxi and private hire trade organisations have a high level of engagement with senior officials within TfL through regularly scheduled meetings.
My Deputy Mayor for Transport will be attending the next of these meetings, which will be chaired by the Transport Commissioner, in August.

Taxi and Private Hire Trade (2)

David Kurten: Do you think Taxi & PH drivers trust TfL TPH?

The Mayor: I cannot speak for individual drivers, but Transport for London (TfL) is open and transparent in its governance and decision making. As I am sure you are aware, TfL regularly consults and engages with drivers on a number of topics. Recently this has included the removal of the congestion charge exemption for private hire vehicles and changes to taxi age limits.
Senior representatives from TfL, including the Commissioner, hold regular meetings with taxi and private hire trade representatives to discuss topical matters. In addition, TfL’s taxi and private hire team and enforcement team meet regularly with trade groups to discuss licensing and enforcement performance.

Food waste (2)

Leonie Cooper: How much total food waste is generated in London? Please provide tonnes and per head figures back to 2012.

The Mayor: In my London Environment Strategy, I estimated that total food waste including food packaging makes up around 30 per cent of London’s municipal waste (1.5 -1.75 million tonnes per year). This assumes 20 per cent is food waste and 10 per cent packaging waste. This equates to 175-200kgs per head. I have set a target to halve this amount by 2030.
Official data is not available in tonnes, or per individual London borough, or London as a whole as there is no requirement to report it. The Government is consulting on annual reporting of food surplus and waste by food businesses, and on legal powers to introduce mandatory targets for food waste prevention to be adopted by 2023. I supported these measures, and that they be adopted earlier, in my consultation response submitted to Defra in May this year.
See Mayor's Question 2019/14609 and Mayor's Question 2019/14610 for more information on how I am tackling food waste to achieve this target.

Buildings below 18m with flammable cladding

Andrew Dismore: Is LFB or any other GLA body taking steps to ascertain the number of buildings, like Samuel Garside House, that are below 18m high but have aluminium composite material cladding, or other forms of cladding that are judged to be unsafe on tall buildings?

The Mayor: Neither LFB nor the GLA would have the capacity to investigate all buildings in London that might have potentially unsafe cladding.
It is the responsibility of national Government to make sure the responsible person for each building is given the correct guidance on making sure their building is safe, and that councils are given the powers and resources they need to take appropriate enforcement action.

Dial a ride

Tony Arbour: How many dial a ride trips have incurred ULEZ charges?

The Mayor: Dial-a-Ride has not incurred any ULEZ charges. Dial-a-Ride has replaced older buses with 90 new, ULEZ compliant, Euro VI vehicles, and only these buses are used for any passenger journeys within the zone.

Property tax

Andrew Boff: What would be the impact on London’s housing market of replacing council tax with a ‘progressive property tax’?

The Mayor: Council tax is not progressive as those living in the cheapest properties typically pay more as a proportion of their home’s value than those living in more expensive housing. A well-designed progressive property tax could raise the same amount of money but reduce tax bills for most Londoners.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (23)

Andrew Boff: What proportion of London Underground stations South of the river currently have step-free access?

The Mayor: There are 270 stations on the London Underground Network of which, currently, 28 per cent are accessible.
There are 29 stations south of the river and of these 11 have full step free access.So 37.9 per cent of stations south of the river have step-free access.
There are 241 stations north of the river and 67 of those have step free access.So 27 per cent of stations north of the river have step free access.
My Accessibility programme will deliver step-free access to Wimbledon Park in 2020 and when the Northern line extension is complete, Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms will also provide step free access. When all this work is complete, 41 per cent of stations south of the river will have step free access.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (22)

Andrew Boff: How many residents in North London boroughs currently pay for a TfL travelcard? Please give a breakdown of type (zones) and duration (annual or monthly).

The Mayor: Please see my answer to Mayor's Question 2019/14321.

Young Londoner’s Fund

Navin Shah: As part of the funding process, is there a focus on distributing funding to organisations across London’s boroughs?

The Mayor: Young people from every borough in London can access a range of exciting activities and support from projects funded through the first round of the Young Londoners Fund.
We want to fund a broad and balanced programme that supports young Londoners who are most at risk of social exclusion or involvement in criminal activity or are already involved in criminal activity. The round two Young Londoners Fund prospectus says that ‘proposals must be informed by local knowledge, need and demand, and shaped by those closest to your communities who have experience of previous delivery in their proposed area. We will pay particular attention to proposals that will deliver to young people facing the biggest challenges including, those from areas with high levels of deprivation and high incidents of serious youth violence.’
As part of the Young Londoners Fund application pack we have produced a Data Resource Pack which brings together publicly available data, indicators and maps to highlight potential areas of need.
36 local information sessions were held across the city in partnership with the Young Londoners Fund Local Networks to help organisations planning to apply to round two.

Rail Grinding between Victoria and Pimlico (5)

Tony Devenish: Will TfL undertake to regrind the southbound track annually from now on?

The Mayor: The primary purpose of rail grinding is to manage rail defects and maximise asset life, and it is important that Transport for London continues to prioritise the use of rail grinding in this way.
Generally, grinding is undertaken on each Tube line on an annual basis. However, it is not possible to confirm the grinding programme for 2020 and beyond at this stage.
As referred to in my answer to Mayor's Question2019/14417, a detailed programme for the grinding on the Victoria line for later this year will be available from September 2019.

Tube Noise Abatement (3)

Tony Devenish: Why is TfL hesitant about introducing more Pandrol Vanguard on the LU network?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has found that while resilient track fastenings have often delivered a benefit in terms of reducing disturbance for residents, they are also associated with increased in-carriage noise for both customers and staff. TfL has a duty to balance the needs to residents with those of customers and staff.
The installation of track fastenings across the Tube network is currently paused, while TfL assesses the success of this type of mitigation.

Tube Noise Abatement (4)

Tony Devenish: What is the evidence for TfL’s safety concerns in the use of Pandrol Vanguard?

The Mayor: Safety is always Transport for London (TfL’s) first priority, and all resilient track fastenings installed on the Tube network have been assured as safe for use.
However, TfL has found that while resilient track fastenings have often delivered a benefit in terms of reducing disturbance for residents, they are also associated with increased in-carriage noise for both customers and staff. TfL has a duty to balance the needs of residents with those of customers and staff.
The installation of track fastenings across the Tube network is currently paused, while TfL assesses the success of this type of mitigation.

Tube Noise Abatement (5)

Tony Devenish: How successful has the introduction of ‘under rail’ pads been in alleviating noise at track level for passengers on lines fitted with Pandrol Vanguard?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is still assessing the impact of under-rail pads.
TfL is currently trialling methods of reducing in-carriage noise, which includes under-rail pads, at priority sites. Further installation work is due to be carried out from August 2019, with assessments due to be carried out by autumn 2019.

Support from external organisations on the Samuel Garside House fire

Andrew Dismore: What support has LFB received from the Building Research Establishment and the Independent Expert Panel on the investigation into the fire at Samuel Garside House?

The Mayor: The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) did not directly assist London Fire Brigade (LFB) with the investigation at Samuel Garside House. The IEP’s role is to advise Government, rather than to assist fire services with investigations. LFB did facilitate BRE attending the incident to gather data for MHCLG’s building safety programme, but BRE were not commissioned to be there in to support either the police or fire service. LFB deployed specialist fire safety and fire investigation officers to the fire. Officers were supported by the Brigade’s Scientific Advisors, who took samples for laboratory testing.

Brexit and food (1)

Andrew Dismore: What impact would no-deal Brexit have on London’s food supply chain?

The Mayor: The impact of any disruption is difficult to determine, depending on factors including industry reaction and policy, UK and EU member state policy and, importantly, public behaviour. Just-in-time food supply chains are complex and have evolved over decades with access to free trade agreements across Europe.
I asked the London Resilience Forum (LRF) to look at the short-term implications of no-deal on food supply and distribution, alongside other critical areas. They have explored this with the London Food Board, including retail and hospitality sector representatives, and are working to understand how Government will maintain continuity of food supply.
The LRF has raised its concerns with Government about the unacceptable risks on food supply for vulnerable Londoners.
The first priority of the new Prime Minister must be to put an immediate end to the chaos and confusion of Brexit. That means revoking Article 50 and giving the public the final say.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Andrew Dismore: When are further details of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund due to be announced?

The Mayor: Back in 2017, I wrote to Ministers jointly with London Councils to call on Government to continue to devolve this proposed replacement to EU programmes that benefit the UK; with funding of at least the same quantum.
The Government’s promised 2018 UK Shared Prosperity Fund consultation paper is now nearly a year overdue. In June the Government again committed in its response to the parliamentary Homes, Communities and Local Government Select Committee enquiry on Brexit and local government to “consult widely on the Fund” but said that final decisions would be made following the ‘Spending Review’.
But that review may now itself be delayed due to either continued Brexit uncertainty and/or the actions of the new Prime Minister.

Joint Inspection Team

Andrew Dismore: Is the Joint Inspection Team announced in June 2018 operating yet?

The Mayor: I am frustrated that the Government has so far failed to get the Joint Inspection Team up and running, more than a year after it was announced. However, my team has been informed that the Joint Inspection work will start shortly.

A1 safety measures

Andrew Dismore: Could you provide an update on road safety measures at Falloden Way, specifically regarding work to make the pedestrian crossings at Midholm safer?

The Mayor: Following a meeting between Transport for London (TfL) and yourself in October 2018, TfL met with the London Borough of Barnet to discuss road safety concerns, and subsequently commissioned a comprehensive safety study along A1 Falloden Way. TfL has since commissioned a number of traffic surveys, including pedestrian counts, across Falloden Way near Midholm, with a view to identifying suitable safety measures. TfL will share the options developed with you before the end of this year.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (1)

Andrew Boff: Do you believe that public transport South of the river and North of the river are equally affordable, safe, reliable and accessible?

The Mayor: As set out in my Transport Strategy, I am committed to improving the safety, accessibility and whole journey experience of London’s transport network for all Londoners.
Some areas of south London are more dependent on National Rail services than other parts of London. The Strategic Case for Metroisation, published in March 2019, demonstrates that National Rail in south and south east London is performing poorly and south Londoners are getting a less frequent rail service than the rest of London. TfL customers have also benefitted from my fares freeze, while fares on National Rail services have not been frozen.
Bus performance in south London is slightly better than in north London, although both are exceeding their minimum standards. My Hopper fare has also provided benefits for everyone in London, but particularly for those who are reliant on the bus and/or tram in south London.

Autism (6)

Andrew Boff: Is the Mayor of London working with other major cities, both nationally and internationally to collaborate in making London and other cities an autism-friendly place and if so, how?

The Mayor: The GLA is not currently involved in collaborations with other major cities specifically related to those on the autistic spectrum. However, our work with the Alzheimer’s Society on creating a Dementia-Friendly London will benefit those on the autistic spectrum as it helps improve signage and customer information on public transport. The Alzheimer’s Society, who are partnering with us on our dementia friendly work, is a member of Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), which promotes dementia friendly communities internationally.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (3)

Andrew Boff: What is the Mayor of London doing to tackle any inequalities between public transport North and South of the river?

The Mayor: Parts of south London are more dependent on National Rail services than other areas of London, which means that the networks are not necessarily as well integrated with TfL services. I am therefore continuing to call for the devolution of the contracting authority of local stopping services to TfL in and around London, and for metroisation of these services in south and south east London.
This would improve customer service and enable better integration with London’s wider transport system, as demonstrated by the successful expansion of the London Overground network. The Strategic Case for Metroisation outlines how service frequencies on the rail network in south London could be brought in line with the rest of London.
On the bus network, the Hopper fare has provided benefits for everyone in London, and particularly for those who are reliant on the bus and/or tram in south London. In the coming years, I will continue to reshape the bus network in outer London, both north and south of the river, to provide faster connections, enhance network coverage and deliver a good customer experience.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (2)

Andrew Boff: What research if any, has the Mayor of London carried out into investigating inequalities between London public transport North and South of the river?

The Mayor: Transport for London has not conducted specific research on this topic, however, it continues to assess London’s transport network to identify areas where improvement is needed. Also, please see my answer to Mayor's Question 2019/14301.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (5)

Andrew Boff: Please can you provide the average number of underground trains per hour that stop at stations South of the river?

The Mayor: The weekday average number of London Underground trains per hour, per platform, is 14.9.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (4)

Andrew Boff: What is the Mayor of London doing to make sure public transport is equally affordable, safe, reliable and accessible North and South of the river?

The Mayor: Please see my answer to Mayor's Question 2019/14301.
I am committed to working with TfL, the DfT, Network Rail, train operating companies, the police and all our stakeholders and partners to improve the safety and whole journey experience for all Londoners.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (6)

Andrew Boff: Please can you provide the average number of underground trains per hour that stop at stations North of the river?

The Mayor: The weekday average number of London Underground trains per hour, per platformis 13.4.

Food waste (1)

Leonie Cooper: How much food waste is generated by London’s households? Please provide data by Borough back to 2012.

The Mayor: Official data is not available for the tonnage or percentage of food waste from individual London boroughs. It is estimated that London households produce around 780,000 tonnes of food waste each year. This is based on food waste making up around 25 per cent of London’s household waste (3 million tonnes) using composition data drawn from WRAP, Defra studies and from local authorities.

North vs South of the River Public Transport (24)

Andrew Boff: What proportion of London Underground stations North of the river currently have step-free access?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor's Question 2019/14323.

Greenpeace and Telegraph investigation into Cory

Leonie Cooper: Given the recent expose by Greenpeace Unearthed and the Telegraph, does the Mayor believe that a second Belvedere incinerator run by Cory should receive DCO from Government?

The Mayor: The recent article in the Telegraph stated that recyclable plastic and paper was being sent to incineration from a London waste transfer station, highlighting staff error and contamination as potential causes.
It is vital that we continue to increase the percentage of waste that is recycled, primarily through better collection services, rather than sending it to landfill or incineration. I have set a London-wide target for 65 per cent of London’s municipal waste to be recycled by 2030 and my London Environment Strategy focuses on reducing waste and boosting recycling including ensuring that all boroughs offer consistent recycling services for collecting the six main dry recyclables as well as food waste. This will make it easier for residents to source segregate waste and reduce contamination by separately managing food waste so taking it out of residual or other waste streams.
London will not need any further incineration capacity, other than what is already built or has been granted planning permission, if my London-wide recycling target is met. I have therefore made Written Representations to the National Planning Inspectorate opposing Cory’s planning application for a development consent order (DCO) for a new waste incinerator. My written representations can be found at https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/london/riverside-energy-park/.

Community involvement in your Public London Charter

Sian Berry: Could you provide details of which a) councils, and b) community and voluntary sector organisations have been engaged as part of your work to develop your Public London Charter?

The Mayor: Work has begun on the Public London Charter with consultants engaged to carry out research to examine how ownership, rules and management of public realm affect public life and to set out principles and recommendations for the Charter. This initial work has included engagement with a range of stakeholders to help inform early thinking around the key issues for the Charter, such as a recent Urban Design London event which was open to all London boroughs.
As the work develops there will be an opportunity for further engagement with relevant stakeholders including councils and community and voluntary sector organisations prior to formal public consultation on the Charter.

Publication of your Public London Charter

Sian Berry: Further to my question 2019/0272, could you now provide a target publication date for your Public London Charter?

The Mayor: The aim is to publish a consultation draft of the Public London Charter in early 2020 once the London Plan has been published.

Policy work and decisions to prevent 'poor playgrounds'

Sian Berry: Since the issue of 'poor playgrounds' was highlighted earlier this year, what work have you done through your policies and planning decisions to prevent the segregation of children from different tenures in new housing developments?

The Mayor: Following the London Plan Examination in Public hearing on this matter, I was pleased to submit to the Panel of Inspectors a suggested amendment to Policy S4 of my new London Plan, making it clear that play space in new residential developments should not be segregated by tenure. In addition, for applications that are referable to City Hall, my planning officers are making it clear that play space must be open to all.

Community involvement in rent control proposals

Sian Berry: Could you provide details of which a) councils, and b) community and voluntary sector organisations have been engaged as part of your work to develop rent control proposals?

The Mayor: My rent control proposals drew on background research undertaken by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) on behalf of the GLA. In conducting their work, NEF engaged with a range of organisations, including the London Renters Union, Renters Rights London, Generation Rent, and Shelter. My team briefed London Councils on my proposals before their publication, and they will engage further the wider housing sector now the proposals have been published.

Night Time Enterprise Zone and music partnership

Susan Hall: What are the key performance indicators and targets for the Night Time Enterprise Zone and new music partnership?

The Mayor: I have allocated funding to deliver a Night Time Enterprise Zone pilot project, which was a key recommendation of the London Night Time Commission. One borough will be selected through a competitive process and targets and key performance indicators will be set against the work programme. These will include engagement with businesses, residents and workers and activities that test the impact of the Zone against its three aims: Reviving London’s high streets with increased activity after 6pm; Giving Londoners better access to their city after 6pm; Supporting good work standards for night workers.
I have seed-funded the Safer Sounds Partnership to bring the music industry, police and licensing officials together to share advice, intelligence and best practice. The Partnership is delivered by the Safer Business Network, it has met once and is currently developing a set of KPI’s which I am happy to share once available.

Water Fountains (2)

Susan Hall: Do you believe your water fountain scheme will benefit Londoners from all areas across London?

The Mayor: The purpose of the drinking fountain program is to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastic water bottles and promote a refill culture. To achieve this, I have delivered a pilot scheme with ZSL, installing 28 fountains, and have entered into a partnership with Thames Water to install a network of over 100 more drinking water fountains across London.
I invited applications to host a fountain from all Londoners, including London boroughs, other public landowners, private landowners, and leaseholders/managing agents who have permissions for a fountain to be installed. We received almost 250 applications, representing all 33 London boroughs, and plan to work with Thames Water to install drinking fountains across London in visible sites with high footfall and easy access where there will have the most impact in reducing single use plastic.
For the areas of London where Thames Water is not the supplier we have contacted the relevant suppliers requesting that we enter into a similar partnership to work together to install fountains in their area.

Next steps for community-led housing in the Small Sites, Small Builders programme

Sian Berry: Further to my question 2018/1779, when will further sites on GLA land be brought forward for bidding by community-led housing groups, as part of your Small Sites, Small Builders programme, and how many such sites will be included in the next phase?

The Mayor: The programme is currently funding due diligence on 25 sites, including up to 10 sites earmarked for community-led housing. Those sites where the due diligence presents no problems are expected to be available later this financial year.

Food waste (2)

Fiona Twycross: What can London’s supermarkets do to reduce food wastage in their stores, or how can they help Londoners to reduce food wastage at home?

The Mayor: London is one of three cities, along with New York and Sao Paulo, that has been nominated to be a Flagship City for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Food Initiative. Over the next three years, the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) will work with the Foundation to bring together pioneering restaurants, supermarkets, food brands, waste managers, governments, and other food industry leaders to transition towards a food system that cuts food waste, supports local food production, and distributes surplus food to useful purposes. Through LWARB will be calling on supermarkets to take measures to cut food avoidable waste right up the supply chain and help deliver communication and workshop activities to help Londoners to cut food waste.
This will build on the work that I am already doing with LWARB delivered through the Trifocal Project (see Mayor's Question 2019/14609) and the London Food Strategy to cut avoidable food waste and divert surplus edible food to charities and to livestock.

Clarification of Approved Document B

Andrew Dismore: What is your judgement of the clarifications to Approved Document B announced by the Government on 5 July, in response to the consultation on that document?

The Mayor: I welcome efforts to make the document clearer, but more than clarification is needed - the full technical review of ADB needs to lead to concrete policy changes that will make people safer. These changes should include: external fire spread; increased use of sprinklers; ways to support the safety of our most vulnerable members of society; and how firefighters are supported with suitable access and facilities.

Apprenticeships (4)

Fiona Twycross: Can you provide me with a breakdown of apprenticeships started in London, by sector and by borough, further broken down by level and broken down again by ethnicity by academic year quarter since August 2018 to date?

The Mayor: Officers are drafting a response. Please be aware that there may be some delay, as the data required in order to answer your question fully is not yet available.

Sainsbury’s Whitechapel

Nicky Gavron: Do you agree with the decision by Secretary of State James Brokenshire to overrule the recommendation of a planning inspector and refuse plans for the redevelopment of the Sainsbury’s in Whitechapel? Please explain your response.

The Mayor: I considered the scheme at Stage 1 of the referral process. I had significant concerns about elements of the scheme. The 17.5% affordable housing proposed was wholly unacceptable. The physical separation of the communal amenity spaces on the basis of tenure was also totally unacceptable. I expect all strategic developments to follow the principles of Good Growth and the policies in my draft London Plan. In this context I would not expect schemes to have harmful impacts on heritage assets and on neighbouring residential amenities, as would have been the case with this scheme.